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 not afford to put in writing off Manchester Metropolis.
Up till March the Reds have 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 have been throughout.
The Reds capitalised on Metropolis’s defeat at Brighton with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa to provide 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 remaining whistle.
“Their (Metropolis’s) outcome was introduced within the stadium however it’s nonetheless so early within the season,” stated the Netherlands captain.
“We’ve seen them through the years 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 rapidly.
“We shouldn’t deal with any of that and I don’t assume we do. That’s one thing we are able to’t management. Let’s see what the approaching weeks carry.
“We must always have discovered from final yr. For those who don’t study then it doesn’t carry you any additional.”
With a troublesome run of fixtures nonetheless to return, 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 is not going to turn into any extra snug.
“We’re solely in November however I see us coping with tough moments fairly properly,” 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 superb.
“Perhaps in the direction of the tip of a season the stress is greater. Then everybody needs to be there and step up.
“I can’t predict how the final a part of the season will go. However up to now, so good.
“For me it’s fairly simple 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 into 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 therefore a few years, not simply this yr,” stated Van Dijk.
“I see the exhausting work he places in each day. It’s how constant he’s, particularly together with his numbers however together with his performances as properly.
“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 taking place. 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 every of them.”
