Virgil van Dijk challenges Liverpool to use the pain of a sobering week to fuel their Premier League title charge
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Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool acknowledges the fans after the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk applauds the Liverpool the fans after the Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United
(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk has challenged Liverpool to use the pain of a sobering week to fuel their Premier League title charge on the other side of the international break. And the Reds captain has demanded: "We have to work our a*** off for it."
After losing out on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night, the Reds saw their hopes of a domestic double under Arne Slot fall by the wayside as they were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United in Sunday's Carabao Cup final.
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On the same day, Arsenal reduced the gap at the top of the Premier League to 12 points courtesy of a 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates and Van Dijk and his colleagues need 16 points from the final 27 to secure the title in Slot's first season.
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Next up for Liverpool is a visit from Everton in the Merseyside derby on April 2 after the international break and their skipper admits it is more difficult to lift the players' spirits when they are all in their respective international camps.
Van Dijk cut a dejected figure as he spoke after Sunday's game at Wembley but issued something of a rallying cry to his team-mates as they now focus all their attention on a second title in five years.
"I don't know exactly what the explanation for that is but it's a disappointing thing," Van Dijk said. "But we all have to realise is that the job is not done for what we have coming up. We have to work our a*** off for it and everyone needs to realise.
"The life of a footballer means tomorrow at 2pm I'll be in the (Netherlands) national team camp and I can't be sitting there with my face down and everyone looking at me thinking: 'Are we gonna attack this international break?'
"Because I'm the captain there as well. It's a quick turnaround. I'm very disappointed from tonight. I really am. It hurts but from tomorrow that's the life of football player, you can't dwell on things too much, especially in the middle of a season.
"There's obviously moments where you have to be disappointed in this case and I'm definitely but from tomorrow I'll focus on Spain because I've got a quite difficult one on Thursday.
"We have to turn this around. It's how football works: in five days you lose twice and the world is sinking, sort of how you can say it, and two weeks before everything was, you know, sunshine and rainbows everywhere.
"But now obviously everyone goes to their respective countries, play there, hopefully stay fit, and then we have a couple of days to settle down and then we train, and then we have to be ready for Everton at home, who are going to be tough.
"We're in a good position. There are so many positive and good things to look forward to. We play for the Premier League, the most difficult prize to get.
"In my opinion, one of the toughest Premier League seasons there is in the last couple of years, in terms of everyone can win from each other, so it's very difficult. So, listen, we go for it and let's see where it brings. You have to be confident and enjoy the last nine games."
Van Dijk also highlighted the importance of the squad's leaders in helping retrain the focus on the final nine games now as the Reds aim to get back to winning ways after the most difficult week of Slot's fledgling career on Merseyside so far.
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Van Dijk added: “That's very big, of course. But not only in this stage of the season, I think the whole season. Of course, you have to read certain situations, you have to observe players, you have to see how they deal with this type of moment and when we come back, how the mood is.
"It's key to obviously stick together, while I'm not worried about that whatsoever, but don't get nervous, don't let it drag you down. All easy things to say but it is key to getting the job done. So, let's go for it and let's see."