Sadio Mane has waxed-lyrical about the return of Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutchman missed most of last season with a knee injury, but you wouldn't know it from his performance in the first three games of the 2021/22 campaign.

And Mane is delighted to once again play alongside the imperious centre-back.

"Having one of the best defenders in the world back on your team, you don't need to describe it – it's amazing," Mane said.

"Last year was obviously a tough time for him but now he's always smiling! And, of course, we are all happy for him.

"He is a very professional athlete who looks after his body all the time and I wasn't surprised to see him straight back into his old form.

"We have seen him play a few games now and, for me, we have seen him at that level already."