Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says he will have zero contact with former team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold before his Anfield return on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old is unlikely to play for Real Madrid as he has not featured since suffering a hamstring injury on September 16, but the former vice-captain is set to be on the bench after his controversial move to the Spanish capital this summer.
He was a well-liked member of the Liverpool dressing room since breaking through as a teenager – but Van Dijk says he is nothing other than an opponent now.
Asked if he will be speaking to his old mate before the game, Van Dijk said: ‘No.’
Pressed if he had spoken to him much since leaving, in which Liverpool secured around £10million for Madrid to sign him early for the Club World Cup, the Dutch defender added: ‘Not much, no. Nothing personal whatsoever, obviously I live my life and he lives his life in Madrid.
‘Trent is a quality player. He showed it so many times, he’s a very gifted player and he was important for us over all those years. I was very happy to have him in my team.
Virgil van Dijk says he and Trent Alexander-Arnold have not spoken personally since the latter left Liverpool
Van Dijk has labelled him an ‘opponent’ but refuses to say he wants a ‘hostile’ atmosphere
‘We have been very successful, but now he’s an opponent on Tuesday. If he plays then we have to make it very difficult for him to do what he’s good at.’
Liverpool fans booed Alexander-Arnold immediately after he announced he was leaving the club as they felt hurt that the local lad turned his back on them, though the distasteful feeling had mellowed somewhat by the time he played his final game.
Saying that, he is unlikely to get a rousing reception on his return even if he does feature for La Liga’s leaders. Federico Valverde has played the last few games at right back, including the 4-0 rout over Valencia on Saturday and a 2-1 win in El Clasico the weekend before.
Asked what reception he was expecting, Van Dijk flipped the question on reporters and said: ‘Do you want it to be hostile on Tuesday night? I’m not going to say any of that. Do you want it to be hostile?
‘I’m not going to comment on that. I think he’s been outstanding in his time in Liverpool and that’s the only thing I can say.’
