Liverpool ground out a 0-0 draw away to Premier League leaders Arsenal on Thursday night and now their focus turns to the FA Cup, with Arne Slot's side hosting Barnsley in the third round
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 8: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 8, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk's eyes are on winning the FA Cup(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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Virgil van Dijk insists the FA Cup will give Liverpool the chance to show why they are still reigning champions. Liverpool captain van Dijk admits it has been a frustrating season as they are losing grip on their title but says they are still determined to finish with a trophy.
They face Barnsley in the FA Cup third round on Monday night and Liverpool are beginning to rediscover some form as they are on the back of a ten game unbeaten run. Van Dijk, who won the FA Cup in 2022, says they are ready to believe again and still have plenty of play for as they also have the Champions League in they sights.
Liverpool captain van Dijk said: “Any competition is important, but definitely the FA Cup is important. Barnsley will come to us on Monday, and I am looking forward to that game.
“They will try everything in order to get through, and we have to be ready for a big fight and the chances to finish them off. I am really looking forward to the FA Cup, and the Champions League, too.
“There are still a lot of games to play, and a lot of opportunities to go out and show why we are Liverpool and why we are the reigning champions. Winning breeds confidence and always helps. But we are in a position where we don’t want to be. We are the current champions.
“It has been a very inconsistent and difficult season so far and that is something I am personally not happy with, and we are not happy with as a team, as a club. But the only ones that can turn that around is us, with the manager, and that is what we work hard on each and every day. I have the belief and I am fully confident we have the players and staff to turn it around.”
Van Dijk also hopes that Liverpool’s hard fought draw at Arsenal may also be a turning point because they played well for the whole 90 minutes as well as being solid. He added: “If you play for Liverpool, you have to play with confidence and still be confident even if it has been a very inconsistent season. There is an opportunity every three or four days.
“You want to go out there and enjoy yourself, but also to show your quality with every moment that you have, and there was a lot of noise around this game and a lot of talk around this game, and we managed everything pretty well and we had the biggest chance in the end with the ball on the crossbar.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: (4thL) Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal takes on (L) Milos Kerkez (2ndL) Virgil Van Dijk and (3ndL) Alexis Macallister of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 08, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk was part of a watertight defence against Arsenal(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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“Listen, we have had very good performances throughout the season but not for 90 minutes. We have been very inconsistent, and consistency is the key to being successful and that has been proven. That is what we had last year and unfortunately in that sense we haven’t been good enough this season.
“The only thing we can do is try and get it back and every three or four days we have an opportunity to do that, but we also need consistency in no injuries and that is unfortunately part of the game, and we are dealing with that as well.”
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