Rio Ferdinand has insisted that Liverpool's showdown with Manchester City on Sunday is the perfect opportunity for Virgil van Dijk to return to form.
The Reds head into Sunday's crunch clash at Anfield devoid of confidence following their latest setback against Arsenal. Jurgen Klopp conceded that last weekend's 3-2 defeat against the Gunners, who are now 14 points ahead of Klopp's men at the top of the table, had effectively ended Liverpool's title hopes.
And the Reds chief admitted that a match against Pep Guardiola's side was "not ideal" in the wake of their disastrous start to the new Premier League campaign.
The showdown will pit Manchester City's new star striker, Erling Haaland, against Van Dijk, Liverpool's main man at the back. But while the former is in red-hot form, Van Dijk has struggled to replicate the imperious form that he has showcased in recent years.
While he was discussing Liverpool's defeat on Sunday, Van Dijk appeared to hint that a lack of confidence was the reason behind both the club's poor form and his own personal struggles. He told Sky Sports: "Confidence is definitely a thing that plays a part but you know, we are all human beings and sometimes you need a bit of confidence in certain moments and it could also if your confidence is not as high not help you in situations.
"Like I said before, every human being in any job needs a little bit of confidence in order to perform at the highest level. If you are not winning at the highest level like we are used to, then confidence is creeping away but we know it can turn around just like that, we have to work hard."
Join the debate! What have you made of Van Dijk's start to the season? Let us know here.
And while a meeting with Haaland, who has plundered 20 goals in just 13 games this season, doesn't appear to be the ideal solution to Van Dijk's struggles, Ferdinand is adamant that Sunday's showdown is exactly the type of test the centre-half needs.
"It's a great opportunity [for Liverpool]', Ferdinand told BT Sport ahead of Liverpool's Champions League clash with Rangers on Wednesday night.
"I used to look at these games if we were a bit out of form and going into a big game you should look at it as this is the perfect game. This is what Liverpool should be thinking.
"This is Virgil van Dijk's time to go and shut a few people up. People are questioning him now, he was almost invincible at one point, the best player on planet earth right now, the most in-form right now, Haaland is coming to town, 'I'm going to put it on him, shut it up.' All of a sudden the dynamic changes and the confidence grows, and everyone is back on the path."
