• Bruce admits Mo Salah slipped through Egyptian scouting net• ‘Van Dijk gave
Liverpool the backbone they needed’Steve Bruce has revealed before Saturday’s trip to Liverpool with Newcastle that he tried to sign Virgil van Dijk while manager of Hull. Bruce’s visit to Anfield, where he scored two own goals on his Norwich debut, pits him against one player he did buy for Hull, Andy Robertson, and another, Mo Salah, who slipped through his extensive Egyptian scouting net.
“Virgil van Dijk: wow, what a player,” said Newcastle’s manager. “We all know how good Liverpool are up front but signing him and the keeper [Alisson] gave Liverpool the backbone they needed, just took them to the next level.