Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk believes the workforce have discovered vital classes from their title race drop-off final season and is aware of that even with a five-point lead on the prime of the Premier League they can’t afford to write down off Manchester Metropolis.
Up till March the Reds had been within the hunt to win 4 trophies however, following an FA Cup defeat at Manchester United, their marketing campaign unravelled and a month later their hopes of including one other trophy to the Carabao Cup had been throughout.
The Reds capitalised on Metropolis’s defeat at Brighton with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa to present Arne Slot’s facet a wholesome benefit heading into the worldwide break however Van Dijk stated nothing ought to be learn into the celebrations by followers on the ultimate whistle.
“Their (Metropolis’s) end result was introduced within the stadium but it surely’s nonetheless so early within the season,” stated the Netherlands captain.
“We’ve seen them over time put collectively loopy runs of successful video games and being so constant.
“Now they’ve some accidents and are in a little bit of a tough interval however issues can flip shortly.
“We shouldn’t deal with any of that and I don’t suppose we do. That’s one thing we are able to’t management. Let’s see what the approaching weeks deliver.
“We must always have discovered from final yr. When you don’t study then it doesn’t deliver you any additional.”
With a troublesome run of fixtures nonetheless to come back, together with Actual Madrid within the Champions League and clashes with Metropolis, Newcastle and Everton domestically, Van Dijk is aware of their place as league leaders won’t turn out to be any extra comfy.
“We’re solely in November however I see us coping with tough moments fairly nicely,” he added.
“We had a few video games the place we bounced again after going behind. The mentality of the boys to show it round was wonderful.
“Possibly in the direction of the tip of a season the stress is increased. Then everybody needs to be there and step up.
“I can’t predict how the final a part of the season will go. However to date, so good.
“For me it’s fairly straightforward to say however I simply wish to get pleasure from it. Go on the market, all of us are privileged and blessed to be taking part in for Liverpool and have gamers round you with a lot high quality.”
Van Dijk on Salah: Particular participant
Darwin Nunez’s opener got here from a Mohamed Salah help earlier than the Egypt worldwide scored a late second to turn out to be the primary participant in Europe’s prime 5 leagues to register 10 objectives and 10 assists this season.
He, like Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are out of contract in the summertime however the 32-year-old’s numbers make the considered dropping him much more unpalatable.
“Particular participant. He’s been like that for thus a few years, not simply this yr,” stated Van Dijk.
“I see the onerous work he places in every day. It’s how constant he’s, particularly together with his numbers however together with his performances as nicely.
“He’s a particular athlete, a particular participant and a legend of the membership. I’m more than happy that we nonetheless share a pitch collectively.”
Salah turns 33 in June however his captain believes he’ll proceed to carry out on the highest stage.
“Bodily, I can undoubtedly see that occuring. Mentally, that’s in his arms,” he stated.
“With sure gamers, you see how they preserve taking part in on the highest stage. He’s undoubtedly one in all them.”
