Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk says manager Jurgen Klopp is never shy from telling him home truths.

Klopp is urging him and his team-mates to new heights while revealing telling insight as to how the Reds boss is helping maintain their challenge both home and abroad.

“He is hard to me and he has also given me confidence when I've needed it," said the Holland international to the Premier League TV Show. "He knows there's definitely a lot of things that can improve still.

“He will not show anything else, he is who he is. He's just like how you are as a player, when things are going well you can be happy, and when things aren't going well you can be very angry.

“He is very passionate. He will tell you the truth at all times. He won't go beating about the bush. That's something I personally like a lot and most of our players like it as well.

“We have plenty of meetings throughout the whole season where he is definitely not happy about some things.

“That's a good sign. Even when we've only lost one (Premier League) game all season there have been some moments where we can do much better."