What Virgil van Dijk feels about reunion with Aston Villa man who spoiled Liverpool captain's summer

Virgil van Dijk insists he 'won't be bitter' when he comes up against Ollie Watkins for the first time since the England striker ended the Liverpool captain's European Championship dreams with Holland. The Premier League leaders entertain Watkins' Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

The game gives the Reds the opportunity to go 10 points clear of an Arsenal team who have dropped down to fifth place ahead of their own trip to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

Second-place Manchester City travel to Brighton & Hove Albion before Liverpool's 8pm home kick-off, which means Arne Slot's team will know what they have to do to either extend or regain their lead at the summit.

And for Reds skipper Van Dijk, it's the first time he will be pitted against Watkins since the Three Lions forward struck a later winner in the Euros semi-final in July.

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The Holland captain, though, says that game won't be entering his head when Villa pitch up on Merseyside, with the in-form centre-back dismissing any notions of frustration about how that competition concluded for Oranje.

"Do the Euros play on my mind? No," Van Dijk says. "I am not that, what do you call it, sentimental? Bitter? I am never bitter.

"But I know how good he can be and I think he is a very, very good striker. Always makes it difficult for the defenders and it will be a good match-up for all of us.

"But no, I don't think about what happened in the summer. Obviously he scored a good goal, unfortunately, we couldn't stop it but that is football sometimes.

"[There's still a long way to go [this season]. We still got Villa and then I've got Hungary and Bosnia with Holland. So let's focus on those first to stay in form and fit and in a good shape and then we will see."