'He was 18 and ... wow' - Man City striker Erling Haaland ready for Liverpool FC duel with Virgil van Dijk

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Neil Lennon is the manager who launched Virgil van Dijk's career in British football and he's struggled to ever find fault with the central defender, but this weekend he might well meet his match.

Lennon has had a significant impact on the Liverpool centre-back after signing him for Celtic from Groningen in 2013, but the Northern Irishman has had a close view of Erling Haaland as well.

He was managing Hibs in the Europa League when they were paired with Molde in a qualifying round in August 2018, losing the second leg 3-0 thanks to two goals from a certain Norwegian striker. READ MORE: Solving Foden conundrum key to City ending Liverpool run at Anfield "I managed Hibs when we played Molde in the Europa League when Ole was manager.

Haaland played in the second game, he was only 18 and you thought “Wow”," said Lennon. "Even then, me and Garry (Parker, Hibs' assistant manager), Garry could see a player and said he was unbelievable.