but 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

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

the liverpool defender virgil van dijk says the pain of losing then is driving on the reds now, as ouras driven his team to the brink of champions league glory. and, as one of the world's best defenders prepared for saturday's blockbuster final against spurs, the giant dutchman told me just how much he is relishing the challenge. i am full of excitement. that is the only way to describe it, really, ithink. i'm looking forward to it, like everyone else in the team, like everyone else in the city. it's a fantastic event. it's a massive opportunity for us to hopefully get the sixth european cup. liverpool almost did that last year but were beaten by real madrid, and now van dijk wants to use the disappointment as motivation. we don't want to experience it again. losing a final is painful. it still hurts you now, thinking about it? not really, no, not really, not at all. it made me better, i think. i took a lot of experience from it. and, yeah, hopefully i can use that. both finalists made it to madrid after unforgettable semifinals — liverpool staging a miraculous comeback against the mig

liverpool were runners—up last year, and defender virgil van dijk says the pain of that loss will encouragehe rolls—royce of a player who's driven his team to the brink of champions league glory. and as one of the world's best defenders prepared for saturday's blockbuster final against spurs, the giant dutchman told me just how much he's relishing the challenge. 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 else in the city. it's a fantastic event. but it's also a massive opportunity for us to hopefully get a sixth european cup. liverpool almost did that last year, but were beaten by real madrid. and now van dijk wants to use the disappointment as motivation. we don't want to experience it again. losing a final is painful. it still hurts you now, thinking about it? not really, no. 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 comebac

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. me 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 have

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

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 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

liverpool defender virgil van dijk has told the bbc he'd give up his individual awards to win the championsopean football's biggest competition is the one he really wants to get his hands on. look, football is a team game, and the other day, if you can swap all of these player of the years personal trophies for the champions league, i would do it in no time. but hopefully i won't, i won't have to do. so we are just going to hopefully do it. kyle edmund is out of the french open, after being forced to retire with a knee injury when two sets down in his second round match. the british number one was trailing uruguay‘s pablo cuevas at roland garros. .. and at 2—1 down in the third he called on the trainer... before eventually deciding he couldn't carry on. it means johanna konta is the only british player left in the singles in paris. meanwhile, it was a routine win for world number one novak djokovic. a straight—sets victory over henri laaksonen sees him move into the third round in paris. he's aiming for his second grand slam title of 2019. serena williams struggled in her first match but no

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