Virgil van Dijk sends message to nervous Liverpool fans in Klopp's final season
Virgil van Dijk understands why nerves can creep in but urged Liverpool to enjoy the ride of what is set to be a rollercoaster of a Premier League title race.
The Reds defender accepts everyone is only human so could see why the ground - with a record crowd thanks to their revamped Anfield Road End - got a bit anxious when Burnley made a game of this.
It came after Manchester City had just beaten Everton to move briefly to the summit of the table. Welcome to the title race with Pep Guardiola's all-conquering City.
But Liverpool got the job done to regain their position at the top of the table after second-half goals from Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez saw off Vincent Kompany’s side.
“I think everyone would love to be in this situation that you are on the top and fighting for the pinnacle, which is winning the Premier League in this case,” said the Dutch defender. “It’s very difficult to stay calm. Don’t get nervous but we are all human beings.
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“In the first half when Burnley won a couple of moments, became a couple of times dangerous, you felt the crowd get a bit nervous but that is how a human being is.
“We need everyone to realise that we have to find a way, we need the fans, we need all the players, we need everyone to be ready in order to find a way to win the game.
“We will have setbacks, we will have moments of difficulty but we have to deal with that and find a way. Like I said, we need everyone. Also the fans. Then let's just enjoy the ride.
“We are in a situation that I think last year around this time, you would never, well maybe not never as you never know, but you wouldn’t have believed where we are today. Let's just enjoy the moment and we have to perform as players, but together everyone has to play their part.”
Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners over Burnley (PA)The nervous moments came as Dara O’Shea pulled the Clarets level with a header from a corner before half-time. It cancelled out Diogo Jota’s header from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner when Burnley keeper James Trafford made a mess of coming out for the cross.
Liverpool didn’t seem to be at full throttle. A flu bug had knocked out keeper Alisson and defender Joe Gomez but a few players looked under the weather in the first half.
That changed after the break but it was also helped by the introduction of Harvey Elliott which came because Alexander-Arnold suffered a recurrence of the knee injury which he has only just returned from.
The 20-year-old went in midfield as Curtis Jones went to right back and he provided the crosses of Diaz and Nunez to decide the game. Elliott is a player who wants to be starting regularly but has managed just three from his 20 appearances which has led to a total of 559 minutes in the Premier League so far this season.
But Van Dijk rightly points out Liverpool need players like him to be ready to step in when needed and not be down in the dumps because they’re not starting.
“It’s very important for these guys that when they have their moments, Harvey in this case, they grab them with both hands,” said the defender. We need them. Even if you start on the bench, you have to be ready to make an impact. I think today was a great example of that again.
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“This season there have been a lot of players who have come from the bench and made a difference. That’s what we need. He has to keep going, don’t be frustrated that you don’t play as sometimes it is part of the business but when you get your opportunities you have to perform and that’s what he has done in this case.”
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