Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has lavished praise on Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutch central defender has often come in for special words from Haaland, given the intensity of their battles this season.

Haaland, who has won the Golden Boot in the Premier League and the league title with his side, spoke about Van Dijk this week.

"There's many good defenders. I have to say, Liverpool's Van Dijk is so good," the forward told Optus Sports.

"I've met him many times with [the] national team, played in Salzburg, met him, he's really good. That's who I can think of right now."

"You know how tall he is, how strong he is and how fast he is, and also the timing is crazy," he told ESPN in 2022.

"I don't think I won one duel against him because he's a physical monster."