Virgil van Dijk has reiterated his need for Liverpool to start out rapidly towards West Ham and has insisted “there may be nonetheless a giant job to be accomplished.”
Whereas Liverpool’s outcomes haven’t all the time been a trigger for celebration in current weeks, Van Dijk’s pre-match rallying calls have been constant of their fervour.
Forward of the Reds’ conflict with West Ham, the captain has used his pre-match programme column to name on the gamers to unite with supporters behind a typical trigger, three factors.
Van Dijk started by reflecting on final weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Fulham wherein he made a few uncharacteristic particular person errors.
“The Premier League is an unforgiving place, and when you make errors and fall in need of the required requirements then you’re going to get punished,” mentioned the Dutchman.
“That’s precisely what occurred down at Craven Cottage. Credit score goes to Fulham, but it surely was a poor day on the workplace for us, little doubt, and we’ve got to take it on the chin.”
The skipper was in a constructive temper, although, with consideration turning to Sunday’s Anfield event.
He added: “We want to ensure we’re prepared from the primary minute towards West Ham.
“I’ve been saying for a very long time now that there’s nonetheless a giant job to be accomplished. Everybody on the skin will discuss, however that’s not one thing we should always ever be involved by.
“We all know precisely what’s required over the approaching weeks, and we all know the requirements and the mentality wanted if we’re to realize our targets.
“As I all the time say, the whole lot begins with onerous work. We should be all-in on Sunday, and in every of our remaining video games. We should be collectively, absolutely targeted and able to give completely the whole lot for the trigger.”
Virgil van Dijk remembers the Hillsborough catastrophe
Because the closest match to the thirty sixth anniversary of the Hillsborough catastrophe, Liverpool pays tribute to the 97 who misplaced their lives.
Van Dijk paid his respects, saying: “I take into account myself extraordinarily blessed to be the captain of this soccer membership, and on behalf of everyone on the membership we wish to honour the lads, ladies and youngsters who misplaced their lives, and to pay our respects to all these affected by what occurred that day.
“You might be in our ideas, on this present day and all the time.”
A mosaic shall be displayed on the Kop previous to kick-off to recollect the 97 followers who died on April 15, 1989.
There’s a commemorative version of the matchday programme and tributes will even be displayed on LED boards surrounding the pitch.
