Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak says Virgil van Dijk has been a big help since he joined the club earlier this season.

The 21-year-old defender arrived on loan from Schalke on transfer deadline day in January and has been a regular for Jurgen Klopp's side since.

The Turkish international came into a side short on confidence and without several of their regular defenders.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson (left) stands dejected alongside Ozan Kabak as Leicester City's Jamie Vardy (out of pic) celebrates scoring their sides second goal during the Premier League match at the King Power Stadium, Leicester. Picture date: Saturday February 13, 2021.

Kabak's debut for Liverpool away at Leicester City was one to forget but there has been an improvement since then.

A miscommunication between him and Alisson Becker handed the three points to Leicester but Kabak said he could not dwell on the inicident.

"Until the 75th minute everything went well," Kabak said in an interview with Liverpoolfc.com.

"Unfortunate things, it's football and that can happen. It happened.

"But in my opinion, in football, whatever happened you need to forget it and you need to keep going and keep going. You need to forget the past.

"That's exactly what I did – I forgot the moment and I try to give my best in this game and after this game.

"But, to be honest, I felt really, really sad. But my teammates, manager, everyone supported me and I appreciated it.

"It was not easy, of course. I came directly into the team and I needed to give something to the team and to help the team.

"At the same time, I need to get used to the city and the language – everything was new.

"For a [then] 20-year-old lad, it's not easy but I think I did a good job and I just concentrate on football."

Liverpool have an option to buy Kabak at the end of the season for £18million but it remains to be seen if his loan move will be made permanent.

Klopp has had to plan without Virgil van Dijk for the majority of the season but the Dutch defender continues to be an influence off the pitch.

"As a defender, I think you need to smell the danger and you need to see it before it happens," Kabak said.

"I don't know how it's called in English but you need to guess where's the danger and you need to go there and cover.

"You need to be intelligent. That's exactly what I'm trying to do but it's about experience, too, I think.

"Our friend Virgil, for example, is so good at this job."

Kabak is expected to start away to Manchester United on Sunday in a game that Liverpool need to win to keep their top-four hopes alive.

"He [Van Dijk] gave me small tips about our football mentality," Kabak adds.

"I think defenders understand each other better and he came with some small tips about how we play or what I need to do. It helps [my] game.

"I analyse every striker before the game with the video analysis. I ask the guys who work in here [for] their videos and I work on it.

"Before the game I know which foot is stronger and what the abilities are of this striker. It helps me a lot because then it's easier to guess his next movements."

Kabak only turned 21 in March but he's already got plenty of top-flight experience and has made 10 international appearances at senior level.

"Yeah, I'm quite experienced, Champions League, Bundesliga and then Premier League, I had to grow up quick.

"At that age, 18 years old, playing in the Champions League and for Galatasaray – like Liverpool – we had to win every game.

"There's a lot of fans and you need to make them happy every week.

"They expect a lot from you, so this makes you an adult much quicker. That's exactly what I did at the time.

"For a young lad, I've benefited a lot because obviously playing games helps you to settle into new places or a new league.

"That's why I think adaptation was not that hard for me. I mean, I settled in easier than someone else maybe would."