Virgil van Dijk has provided an insight into the strict regimes footballers follow in order to stay in peak physical condition.
The Liverpool defender is widely regarded as the greatest defender in the Premier League and beyond, having taken his game to the next level since joining the club in January 2018.
At the heart of the diet plans followed by first-team members is the Reds' head of nutrition Mona Nemmer, who joined the club from Bayern Munich in 2016 and is responsible for one-on-one consultation with players over their eating habits and potential improvements.
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One rule Van Dijk has revealed he adheres to relates to his choice of drink, with fizzy options off limits for the Dutch international. "Just water," he said of how he remains hydrated. "Gini (Wijnaldum) used to call me 'Aquaman' because I only drink water and it's all I have in the house. Every now and again, I will enjoy a glass of wine with my wife. I don't really like fizzy drinks and don't like my kids drinking them so it's usually water."
Naby Keita, meanwhile, revealed in Nemmer's 'A Taste Of The Liverpool Way' book he always opts to eat the same dish after a day of being put through his paces at the AXA Centre. "Pasta Bolognese," shared the Guinean. "Always after training, pasta Bolognese! My brother really likes that too. Always after training when I go home, my brother asks what are we going to have to eat and the answer is always pasta Bolognese."
Jurgen Klopp also opened up on his dishes of preference, listing Käsespätzle (a cheese-and-pasta German dish) as his go-to when back in his homeland and chilli cooked by his wife Ulla when in Liverpool.
Centre-back duo Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, sharing more of a light-hearted response, lifted the lid on their guilty pleasures when it comes to food. "I'd go for something classic like a Margherita," said Matip. "The German people always love sausage, so I like some types of sausage dishes too. Those are the two foods I really like. I don't have pizza too often but a good pizza is always nice."
Gomez added: "When I was younger, the area of London where I was from used to have a Nando's with a dessert place nearby. It used to be a bit of a routine after training or a match to go to Nando's first and then go across to have a dessert - usually ice-cream and waffles."
*Mona Nemmer's 'A Taste Of The Liverpool Way' is available to purchase from Reach Sport for £12, here.*
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