Virgil van Dijk sends powerful Liverpool message before PSG showdown - 'Show the whole world'

Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool are ready to "show the whole world" their Champions League credentials - starting with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night. The Reds will meet the Ligue 1 side for the first time since 2018 when they are entertained at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

The match is one of the most mouthwatering from the draw that was made in Nyon last month.

Arne Slot's runaway Premier League leaders will meet either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the last eight if they can negotiate their two legs with the French champions,

And Van Dijk insists the whole Liverpool squad are primed to showcase why many have labelled them as Europe's finest this term, having finished as the inaugural winners of the revamped, 36-team group stage.

"It will be a very good game, I expect over there, against a team in form," Van Dijk said. "I think they played very well in their last Champions League game against Brest.

"It will be difficult but these are the games you want to compete in and I am really looking forward to it. Before that we've had some time with our family, a chance to spend some time with the kids and reflect on the last couple of weeks and then we look ahead to what is coming.

"Yes, of course, it feels like [the Champions League] goes up a level now. We are in the knockout stages and there is no time for errors or bad games, basically. There are two games to get through and we want to be so good that we deserve to go through.

"But you have to fight for it, you have to do everything in your power to win the game. That is what we are going to try and do but we are definitely aware of them.

"We will be aware of them in Paris and then obviously back here [to Anfield]. These are the nights that you want to perform in and you want to show the whole world."

The Reds head to Paris on Tuesday afternoon after an open session at the AXA Training Centre at 12.15pm but will be without Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley for the trip to the French capital.