GLASGOW wasn't the place where it all began for Virgil van Dijk. But it is not stretching the narrative to state that he wouldn't be where he is today if it wasn't for the city and Celtic.
On the park, Van Dijk was a Bhoy that became a man, a rising star that developed a winning mentality and progressed physically and tactically during two short but sweet seasons at Parkhead.
Away from the game, Glasgow became home from home. His daughter was born there and the Dutchman immersed himself in the way of life that saw football shape people, including Van Dijk, in a manner that he had never seen before.
Seven years after leaving Celtic for Southampton, Van Dijk will return north of the border next week as Liverpool aim to repeat their Matchday Three victory over Rangers and take another step towards Champions League progression, and perhaps the silverware itself. In a career of so many moments to savour, this fixture holds a unique meaning.
"Personally, for me, it is going to be my first time going back to Glasgow so I am really looking forward to that and seeing a lot of friends as well," Van Dijk said. "We know it is going to be a tough game and the fans over there, especially the first 10, 15, 20 minutes, will be hard so we have to be ready for that storm.
"We know what to expect. It is going to be hard and we have to be ready for that.
"Glasgow means a lot. It was my first time going abroad, my first time winning trophies, and all of those things were massive to me. They shaped me, how I am as a person.
"I have got my daughter who was born there. So many good memories of there that I will cherish forever so it will be great to go back and hopefully we will get the win as well."
Van Dijk arrived at Celtic in 2013 as an unknown quantity but it became evident within weeks that he was destined for the top of the game and that the Parkhead crowd should enjoy him while they still could.
Two Premiership titles and a League Cup were the first medals that Van Dijk collected in his career. Since then, of course, he has added the biggest prize of them all after lifting the Champions League and has made his mark in Anfield history under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp.
The red half of Merseyside have taken the 31-year-old to their hearts just like the green side of Glasgow did. And that makes the successes all the sweeter for Van Dijk as Klopp's side bid for further triumphs this term.
Van Dijk said: "I played for FC Groningen for a long time, they are a mid-table club and sometimes you defend a lot, sometimes you can attack. But not like what I was used to at Celtic.
"At Celtic, the pressure was immense. If you don’t win you lose, of course, but if you draw you lost. You had to win and that was something, that mentality, that I definitely learned.
"But it was also learning how to play the British style with more direct, channel balls, a lot of fighting, headers. It was something I wasn’t really used to in Holland so it definitely helped me in order to be ready for my next step in the Premier League.
"100 per cent [there are similarities between Liverpool and Glasgow] and that is maybe one of the reasons that I picked Liverpool as well.
"I really feel that my step to Celtic was something based on a feeling with the fans, the club, the community and that it really feels like it is a way of living at Celtic.
"With Liverpool, it is exactly the same. When I had the choice to come here or pick between Liverpool and other clubs, for me it was quite clear that I wanted to come here.
"I play here and I feel like I play for a lot of people and their lives. I am really proud of being a part of Celtic and Liverpool."
Van Dijk strolled through the first fixture against Rangers with the ease and swagger that was expected as Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side were brushed off and well-beaten at Anfield. The Ibrox return is a very different proposition, though.
Rangers need a performance as well as a result on Wednesday evening. Van Dijk will no doubt get his own unique welcome but the defender knows the best way to silence the crowd is for the Reds to do what they do best once again.
"You don’t think so?," Van Dijk joked when it was mentioned that the Rangers fans won't forget his Celtic connection. "It happens and you have to accept it. The only thing I can do is focus on the game and that is what I will do.
"Especially in the beginning [Rangers will be a different team]. We have to manage that, we have to be ready for the storm. We know how we can create a storm here with the fans and they will try to do the same. We have to be ready for that.
"I never played at Ibrox. I played at Hampden in the semi-final. It was quite comfortable as well.
"Obviously it is going to be a great atmosphere and they are back in the Champions League for the first time in a long time. It is going to be a great atmosphere.
"If you think about it, as a little boy you wanted to play in these kind of games. Champions League is the highest European stage, sold out stadium, crazy atmosphere. Let’s go for it."
