Van Dijk gives honest assessment of Liverpool title chances after Man City draw
Virgil van Dijk insists Liverpool have put last season's turmoil behind them and showed they are ready to challenge for the Premier League title again.
Jurgen Klopp's side came from behind to earn a vital point at the Etihad Stadium – the seventh time they have done so in the league this season to take something from a game. Klopp's men also became the first team to deny City victory at the Etihad this year - bringing to an end Pep Guardiola's side's 23-match winning streak at home in all competitions.
Liverpool skipper Van Dijk believes the Reds have proved they recovered from the setback of last season's fifth-place finish and can go on to assert themselves as title contenders again. “All those seasons when we were close or when we won the league, we didn’t get carried away,” said Van Dijk.
“We took it game by game and that’s the motivation and mindset we should have. It’s no secret we want to challenge for everything we're competing in and this year we're looking consistent - something we were missing last year.
“But we're in November, with a difficult period coming up, difficult games ahead of us and anything can happen. But hopefully, if we don’t get many injuries or no injuries, let's just see what the season brings.
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“But we have to be confident and give it everything. We have to enjoy it as well, especially after the disappointment of last season. Hopefully it’s a very important point and a good improvement from last season’s result here [Liverpool lost 4-1].
“Also, the way we reacted when we went 1-0 down shows we're in a good way and overall, if you look at the result, everyone should be happy with it. We had good chances, they had good opportunities at times, and now it’s time we move on and get ready for the next game.”
Reflecting on Liverpool's propensity to go behind this season, before coming back into games, Van Dijk said: “Obviously you don’t want to go behind, first and foremost. But when you do, you have to make sure you keep doing the same things and keep to the plan you had before the game and show that extra resilience.
“In the second-half especially, we did so much better and we know with the quality we have that we could create chances. Even in the first-half we had good opportunities to score and in the end I think it was a fair result and we will take it.”
Van Dijk hailed the contribution of fellow defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose clinical strike 10 minutes from time cancelled out Erling Haaland's first-half goal. "Defensively he's very good and obviously in possession he has qualities that are very special and he shows that as well, so he has the complete package,” said van Dijk.
“He has to keep doing what he’s doing - keep improving, keep that high standard he has set for himself and we all have for him as well. I think for the moment he’s playing just fine where he is right now.
“He has that freedom to mix it up and he has to do that, because you see teams are working it out at times. So he has to be able to switch from staying on the outside and going on the inside as well.
“I think it’s a good learning curve for him as well and today he did that well because he was playing against one of the most in-form wingers at the moment in Jeremy Doku. So to be important with the goal - and also his interceptions - is very important.”
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