early in the week our sports editor dan rowan caught up with the pfa player of the year, virgil van dijke year, virgilvan dijk, and it caught up with the pfa player of the year, virgil van dijk, and it was very clear just how year, virgil van dijk, and it was very clearjust how much he wants to win on saturday. lam full of i am full of excitement, that's the only way to describe it, really. i think i'm looking forward to it, like everyone else in the team, like everyone else in the city, it's a fantastic event, a massive opportunity for us to hopefully get a sixth european cup. how dangerous do you think spurs are? you have played them several times since coming to anfield twice this season already, they are tough opponents, but how dangerous can they be? they are a very good team. i think throughout the whole team they have a lot of strength. fantastic goalkeeper, two great centre—backs. obviously in midfield has been very good, and up front they have players that can make a difference as well. so we have to be ready. but i know that they will definitely think the same about us. we are

van dijk has already helped take liverpool to a different level.has got under way with england taking on south africa in the opening match at the oval in south london. england and wales are hosting the six—week competition which involves ten countries and some of the biggest stars in cricket. andy swiss has been watching today's action. for cricket fans, a day to say "i was there". long queues outside the oval, but then england supporters know all about waiting. after decades of world cup disappointment, hopes were high that this might finally be their year. but south africa's bowlers, well, they clearly had other plans. oh, yeah, i think he's got him! jonny bairstow, gone for nought. oh dear! england are the world number ones for good reason, though, and they rebuilt in bruising fashion. 50s from jason roy, joe root and from captain eoin morgan offering the crowd a spot of catching practice. but, despite a late 89 from ben stokes, south africa pegged them back. 311 was still a decent total, but was it enough? south africa's batsmen were soon in tr

and now van dijk wants to use the disappointment as motivation.o. not really, not at all. it made me better, i think. i took a lot of experience from it. wijnaldum... oh, it's three! both finalists made it to madrid after unforgettable semifinals. liverpool staging a miraculous comeback against the mighty barcelona... here's lucas moura... 0h, they've done it! and then spurs stunning ajax the following night. how dangerous can they be, do you think? they are a very good team. i think throughout the whole team they have a lot of strength, and up front they have players that can make a difference as well, so we have to be ready. but i know that they will definitely think the same about us. we are not a nice team to face. having cost liverpool £75 million — a record for a defender — van dijk has proven his worth, recently crowned player of the year, but he says he'd give up such accolades for glory this weekend. if you can swap all of these personal trophies for the champions league, i would do it in no time. but hopefully i won't, i won't have to. h

one of liverpool's undisputed stars of the season has been virgil van dijk.n's presence at the heart of the liverpool defence has been a huge factor in getting to within a point of the premier league's winner, manchester city, as well as helping liverpool to a second successive champions league final. i'm full of excitement. that's the only way to describe it, really. i'm looking forward to it, like everyone else in the team, like everyone in the city. it's a fantastic, you know, event, a massive opportunity for us to hopefully get a sixth european cup. how dangerous do you think spurs are? you have played them several times, of course, since coming here to enfield this season. they are tough opponents, how dangerous can they be, do you think? they are a very good team. i think throughout the whole thing they have had a lot of strength, a fantastic goalkeeper, two rate centre—backs. obviously the midfield has been, you know, very good. and they have players that can make a difference, as well. so yes, we have to be ready. but i know that they will definitely

liverpool defender virgil van dijk has told the bbc he would give up his individual awards to win theplayer of the year last month, but he says european football's biggest competition is the prize he really wants to get his hands on. look, football is a team game. and at the end of the day, if you can swap all of these player of the year personal trophies for the champions league, i would do it in no time. but hopefully i won't — i won't have to. hopefully we're going to do it. dina asher—smith has put down another notable marker to her global sprint rivals by winning the 200 metres at the stockholm diamond league in a world—leading time. up against an elite field that included olympic and world champions, asher—smith surged clear to win by almost half a second, in 22.18 seconds, the quickest time of the year so far. i was really happy, because obviously i wanted to come here and when, andi obviously i wanted to come here and when, and i wanted to run a good—quality race. i am hitting all my technical points, but i didn't anticipate to run that time, i didn't anticipate for it to all

virgil van dijk did just that after ten minutes. commentator: van dijk, all alone!set, mohamed salah tried to put them in their place. rafael benitez‘s side weren't to be told. they continued to cause local problems. as the hour approached, solomon rondon made it 2—2. worrying scenes as mo salah took a blow to the head and was removed from the pitch. his side had created little since the first half, but with a few minutes left, new life was breathed into the title race courtesy of divock origi. these boys deliver and deliver and deliver. so how can you feel pressure when you know you do your best? when the boys do their best, then we have to see, what is the outcome, but so far, 94 points, come on. so, yet another change at the top. now it's over to you, manchester city.

and liverpool's virtual van dijk says he will swap all his accolades for victory on saturday.ian capital, budapest, say there's little hope of finding any more survivors, after a tour boat sank on the river danube. it's thought 21 people are still missing, after the vessel carrying south korean tourists capsized in a collision with another boat. seven people are confirmed dead. nick thorpe has sent this report from budapest — which does contain some flashing images. the rescue effort continued this morning with little hope of survival for the 21 people still missing. according to eyewitnesses, the mermaid, a 26—metre pleasure boat, capsized and sank within seconds after she was struck by a large river cruiser. video has emerged allegedly showing the incident. translation: what we can see on the cctv footage is the small boat sailing north, as is the bigger vessel. when they reach the pillars of the margaret bridge, the mermaid turns in front of the viking for some reason, and there was a collision. the mermaid was turned on its side, and within about seven seconds it sank. pol

and liverpool's virgil van dijk tells the bbc how much he would be prepared to sacrifice to win the champions cricket world cup first, where england beat south africa by 104 runs in the opening match of the tournament at the oval in london. the hosts are under a bit of pressure to do well. they are on home turf and are favourites, and they didn't disappoint. patrick gearey was watching. world cup ‘s always begin with ceremony and choreography, but you can't plan everything. who could foresee south africa opening the bowling with aao —year—old leg spinner, nor this happening second bowl. jonny bairstow, zero. jason roy, one of england's biggest hitters, stay grounded. he and joe root made beautiful 50s but left before the fireworks could start. 0ver before the fireworks could start. over to the captain, eoin morgan, to launch a few rockets. he made 57, only to

virgil van dijk did barcelona to one side. virgil van dijkdidjust barcelona to one side.ome an equaliser. just when newcastle looks like there might be capable of creating an upset, mohamed salah tried to put them in their place. writer bernita's side were not to be told. they continued to cause local problems. as the hour approached, solomon rondon made it 2—2. worrying scenes as mo salah took a blow to bed and was removed from the pitch. his site had created little since the first half, but with a few minutes left, new life was breathed into the title race courtesy of divock 0rigi. into the title race courtesy of divock origi. these boys deliver and deliver and deliver. so how can you feel pressure when you know you do your best? when the boys do their best, then we have to see, what is the outcome, but so far, 94 points, come on. so, yet another change at the top. now it is over to you, manchester city. this one is going to the wire. also going down to the last day of the season is the race for the last two champions league places, third and fourth. tottenham could hav

virgil van dijk did just that after ten minutes. commentator: van dijk, all alone!e looked like they might be capable of creating an upset, mohamed salah tried to put them in their place. rafael benitez‘s side weren't to be told. they continued to cause local problems. as the hour approached, solomon rondon made it 2—2. worrying scenes as mo salah took a blow to the head and was removed from the pitch. his side had created little since the first half, but with a few minutes left, new life was breathed into the title race courtesy of divock origi. these boys deliver and deliver and deliver. so how can you feel pressure when you know you do your best? when the boys do their best, then we have to see, what is the outcome, but so far, 94 points, come on. so, yet another change at the top. now it's over to you, manchester city. this one's going to the wire. also going down to the last day of the season is the race for the last two champions league places, third and fourth. tottenham could have sewn up one of those, but had two players sent off as they were beaten 1—0 at

it's 30 into the second half and it'sjurgen klopp's side who are 2—2 after goals from virgil van dijklast few minutes, mo sala has been stretchered off, involved in an aerial collision with the newcastle goalkeeper. we will have more on that on the website and any update on his condition. that score is 2—2, and anything but a win for liverpool will allow manchester city to drop points in their next two games. if they can maintain that lead they'll go back above manchester city who play leicester on monday. earlier, west ham comfortably beat southampton while wolves win over fulham moves them a step closer to a seventh place finish. in the early kick off 9—man tottenham were beaten 1—0 by burnley — missing their chance to confirm their place in the champions league next season. celtic have won an eighth consecutive scottish premiership title. consecutive scottish they went into the game with aberdeen knowing a win would seal it, taking them beyond the reach of second placed rangers, and so it proved as they won 3—0 at pittodrie. as patrick gearey reports. 0n the day celtic could win th

after virgil van dijk put liverpool ahead, christian atsu equalised for the hosts but in the last fewgain. city play their game in hand against leicester on monday night. down at the other end — bad news for cardiff city — they've been relegated from the premier league after they were beaten at home by crystal palace. neil warnock‘s side needed a win to avoid going down. but andros townsend secured a 3—2 victory for the visitors. cardiff return to the championship next season. they are relegated along with with fulham and huddersfield. earlier, west ham beat southampton thanks to two marko arnautovic goals, and wolves beat fulham moving them a step closer to a seventh place finish, and the chance of european football next season. in the early kickoff, nine—man tottenham were beaten 1—0 by burnley, missing their chance to confirm a top four finish. manchester city beat west ham united 3—0 at wembley to win the women's fa cup for a second time in three years. the hammers are in their first season as a professional club and went behind when kiera walsh scored in the 51st minute. west ham

and virgil van dijk did just that after ten minutes. virgilvan dijk! all alone!ng by the visitors ended with wristy and atsu firing home an equaliser. just when newcastle look like they might be capable of creating an upset, mohamed salah tried to put them in their place. the rafael benitez side we re their place. the rafael benitez side were not to be told was not they continue to cause liveable problems. as the hour approached, salomon rondon meder 2—2. then worrying scenes as mozela took a blow to the head and was swiftly removed from the pitch. this side had few since the pitch. this side had few since the first. with a few minutes left life was breathed into the title race. these boys deliver and deliver and deliver. so how can you fill pressure when you know you do your best? so when they do their best we have to see what is the outcome. so far 9a points. have to see what is the outcome. so far 94 points. so yet another change at the top. now we's over to you, manchester city, this one's going to the wire.jim manchester city, this one's going to the wire. j