Virgil van Dijk embarrasses Paolo Di Canio after pre-match comments backfire

Former Premier League footballer and manager Paolo Di Canio has been left embarrassed with his pre-match prediction on Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

The outspoken Italian claimed prior to the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 encounter between Inter and the Reds that the central defender was a weak spot for the visitors.

However, the Dutchman put in a typically imperious performance for Jurgen Klopp's side - who kept a clean sheet and took a commanding lead in the tie.

Second half goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah put the Reds in control of the tie ahead of next month's return leg at Anfield.

Former Premier League iconic attacker Di Canio had stated ahead of the tie that Inter striker Edin Dzeko would be able to exploit van Dijk's weaknesses during the encounter.

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Di Canio played for Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham and Charlton - before managerial stints at Swindon Town and Sunderland.

He claimed ahead of Liverpool's trip to Italy that van Dijk was not the same player as earlier in his career, before suffering a serious knee injury last season - which ruled him out of action for nine months.

Di Canio told La Gazzetta dello Sport magazine SportWeek, as per Football Italia : ""Had it been in October or November, when the English side tend to give their best, I'd have bet less on Inter.

"Inter do still have an international level this season, as they only lost against Real Madrid due to a lack of clinical finishing, not certainly ideas or style.

"At this stage of the season, Liverpool have some small cracks in the armour that can be exploited. The Liverpool of two years ago had an impenetrable defence, as Virgil van Dijk had improved everyone around him.

"Since returning from injury, he's not the same player and therefore the whole team concedes more.

"Liverpool keep conceding the same dangerous opportunities nowadays, vertical balls behind the defenders, who then start their runs late. That lack of focus is where Inter can hurt them.

"If you also look at Van Dijk's body language, he used to move his arms to bring the full-backs tighter, but now he just flails his arms, complaining and looking frustrated with his team-mates."

As it turned out, van Dijk starred in the heart of Liverpool's defence alongside Ibrahima Konate to ensure that Klopp's side kept a clean sheet against the Italian champions.

Van Dijk told BT Sport after the match: "Everyone expected to be under pressure because they're a very good team. It's the Champions League.

"Our set pieces are a huge part of our game and they worked again for us in this game, to give us a good advantage to take back home.

"They did very well defensively but we managed to find the space and it was a well deserved win in my opinion.

"You need to be ready to suffer, to do the hard work."

There was not much between the two teams on the night but two second half goals after a concerted period of Inter pressure was enough to give the Reds a big advantage in the tie.

Liverpool will host Inter at Anfield in the return leg on 8 March.