Liverpool have given Manchester City some serious work to do after a dramatic Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night.

Just 31 minutes into the game and Pep Guardiola's European hopes were disintegrating around him. Virtue of Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane, Liverpool ran away with an emphatic 3-0 win at Anfield.

Moreover, not only did the Reds keep a clean sheet against the Premier League leaders but they didn't even grant the visitors a single shot on target.

Impressive stuff when you consider City have only failed to test the goalkeeper on one other occasion under Guardiola and that came almost 18 months ago. 

Loris Karius picked on this very point after the game, noting: “Not to concede was very important but then three goals; it’s probably the best result you can ask for. Still, it’s not done. There is still work.

Van Dijk was impressive against Manchester City

"We defended perfectly, starting from the front all the way to the back. That’s the only way you can do it."

Liverpool have made great strides towards improving the defensive aspect of their game in recent weeks and record signing Virgil van Dijk has been crucial for the cause.

The 26-year-old barely put a foot wrong against City alongside Dejan Lovren and almost scored himself, narrowly heading wide in first-half stoppage time.

John Arne Riise commended Van Dijk on Twitter

Murmurs of a difficult start to life at Anfield appear more and more distant by the game.

And while his immaculate performance flew under the radar compared to the showings of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, John Arne Riise couldn't resist tweeting about the Dutchman. 

His showing against City gave him the perfect excuse to commend his influence at the club since leaving Southampton, with the former Liverpool left-back posting:

Riise probably isn't too far from the truth and his point seems incredibly relevant after such an impressive defensive showing.

Liverpool fans were in complete agreement

While there is bound to be some controversy, there is no doubting that Kopites are in complete agreement. Check out some of the replies here:

There are quiet suggestions that Liverpool could kick on and mount a tangible Premier League challenge next year and a watertight back four will be vital to any such hopes.

If Joel Matip and Lovren can raise their performances to the level of a settled Van Dijk, you'd struggle to envisage another 18 point gap yawning between the two teams.

At just half-time in the tie, however, fans can't afford to look past next week quite yet.

Do you think Liverpool will see out the tie next week? Have your say in the comments section below.