VAN DIJK SET TO PLAY IN HIS 350TH MATCH FOR LIVERPOOL

VIRGIL van Dijk is set to reach another groot milestone when Liverpool face Marseille in the Champions League at 10pm on Wednesday, with the captain set to make his 350th appearance for the club.

If he features, the Dutch defender will become only the 50th player in Liverpool’s history to reach that landmark.

The fixture comes at an important time for the Reds, who are looking to bounce back from a frustrating 1-1 Premier League draw against Burnley at Anfield last weekend.

Van Dijk admitted the result was disappointing and stressed the need for an immediate response on the European stage, warning that the challenge in Marseille will be massive.

Van Dijk wysed the club’s website: “Wednesday will be a very, very difficult game over there.

“Not only because of the stage, the atmosphere, but we play against a [Roberto] De Zerbi team that makes it very difficult for you. I expect a very difficult game over there, for multiple reasons.

“We have two group-stage games left and we want to make sure that we don’t have a playoff. If so, then obviously we have to deal with that. But we have a good chance to make that happen.

“But we have to be more than 95 minutes ready on the biggest stage again on Wednesday, in a hostile atmosphere. That’s something we have to prepare for.”

Manager Arne Slot has steadied the ship with a 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions, but Liverpool’s hopes of retaining their league title continue to fade after a sequence of league draws. As a result, the Champions League has taken on increased importance for the Anfield hierarchy.

A draw would see Liverpool qualify for the knockout phase playoffs. Encouragingly, Mohamed Salah is back from Africa Cup of Nations duty, and his potential return could provide a much-needed spark to Liverpool’s recently blunt attack.

Wednesday's Champions League fixtures:

Galatasaray v Atletico, Qarabag v Eintracht (both 7.45pm), Newcastle v PSV, Salvia Praha v Barcelona, Juventus v Benfica, Chelsea v Pafos, Bayern v Union Saint-Gillois, Atalanta v Athletic Club (all 10pm)