Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool should produce one other robust Anfield efficiency if we’re to beat Manchester Metropolis on Sunday afternoon.
The Netherlands captain has grow to be the reference level for what “Liverpool requirements” seem like, and our No.4 is demanding we again up the final week’s enchancment with one other full exhibiting.
In his official matchday programme notes by way of Liverpoolfc.com, Virgil van Dijk wrote: “I’ve spoken frequently this season in regards to the want for consistency and I’m going to repeat that time right here.”
Van Dijk units the tone for Liverpool v Man Metropolis at Anfield
There was lots to love about the way in which we responded in our final two dwelling matches, and Virgil van Dijk made it clear that it can’t be a one-off when Pep Guardiola’s aspect arrive.
The Liverpool skipper stated: “After good performances and outcomes in opposition to each Qarabag and Newcastle United final week, it can be crucial that we comply with up with one other.”
Virgil van Dijk additionally pointed to the function of the gang, whereas maintaining the message grounded in efficiency quite than sentiment.
Virgil van Dijk wrote: “There was rather a lot to get pleasure from in the way in which we performed in opposition to Newcastle and I assumed the environment you guys created was glorious additionally.
“It was a correct Anfield environment, I’d say, and we’re going to want that once more for positive.”
This match is ready to be Virgil van Dijk’s nineteenth look for Liverpool in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, which underlines how acquainted he’s with the nice margins these video games are inclined to carry.
Why Van Dijk’s message issues as Opta again Liverpool barely
The captain’s concentrate on depth and focus matches the fact of going through Manchester Metropolis, as a result of Guardiola’s crew can dominate your consideration for lengthy stretches and punish lapses shortly.
Virgil van Dijk stated: “We now have to be intense, each with and with out the ball, now we have to be dedicated and concentrated from the primary whistle.”
Opta’s pre-match mannequin additionally frames this as a decent contest, with Liverpool given a 43% win probability, Manchester Metropolis 30.3%, and the draw 26.7%, which inserts the concept that particulars in each bins will resolve it.
There may be added context round Virgil van Dijk’s management proper now too, with the Liverpool captain lately addressing the tone of contemporary criticism in dialog with Gary Neville, whereas additionally defending Arne Slot amid the louder outdoors noise.
These two angles matter as a result of they present why Virgil van Dijk’s programme notes learn like a captain setting a typical, quite than promoting a second.
Virgil van Dijk wrote: “We, as gamers, are the primary to confess that there have been instances this season when now we have not reached the requirements required, the requirements we count on of ourselves.”
If we hit that degree once more on Sunday, and marry the work-rate with the standard now we have within the closing third, Virgil van Dijk clearly believes Anfield might be the distinction in one other heavyweight assembly with Manchester Metropolis.
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