Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk says he feels total confidence in his knee this season.

Van Dijk is back after missing much of last term after knee surgery.

"I think I can be very satisfied with how I have come back from such a complicated knee injury," he said.

"But my injury was the result of a kick. It was not one of those moments where nobody was around and your knee goes. When I think about it, that made it easier to go full steam ahead again.

"Of course, there is a niggling thought in the back of my mind now and again, but it is certainly not something that bothers me every day.

"I am never afraid to get fully stuck in when it comes to a 50-50 ball."