Liverpool lost 2-1 against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final but captain Virgil van Dijk is looking forward rather than back as season comes down to Premier League title race
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Updated 12:02, 17 Mar 2025
Liverpool
Liverpool finished as runners-up in the Carabao Cup
(Image: Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk knows Liverpool’s critics will think the world is sinking but he has urged his Reds team-mates to win the biggest prize on offer this season for them - the Premier League title.
Arne Slot’s side lost the Carabao Cup final on Sunday to Newcastle to cap a horror week in which they were also dumped out of the Champions League by PSG on penalties.
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Liverpool’s hopes of winning three trophies are over but they are still a whopping 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League table with nine games to go.
That means a record-equalling 20th league title is within touching distance and captain Van Dijk has called on his team to get over the line as quickly as possible.
READ MORE: EFL release statement on VAR controversy in Newcastle's Carabao Cup win over LiverpoolREAD MORE: Arne Slot explains Liverpool decision that caused controversy in Carabao Cup final loss
He said: “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.
“We all have to realise is the job is not done for what we have coming up. We have to work our ass [off] for it and everyone needs to realise.”
Liverpool’s heartbreak in the cup competitions could be seen as further motivation to ensure there’s no slip ups in the final straight of the Premier League title race.
But Van Dijk said: “Yeah, but for me personally, there shouldn't be extra motivation. You play for the biggest prize that you work so hard for from the start of the season when no-one expected us to be challenging for, first and foremost, the Premier League, one of the biggest prizes, and then on the side of that all the other trophies.
“Obviously the Champions League we couldn't get it done, this we lost and the FA Cup we got knocked out. We have nine games to go and I don't think there's any motivation needed to try to get the job done.
“What is needed is that we have to realise there is hard work and and still a job to do. Each one of us, including the guys that maybe don't play as much, guys out of the squad or the young boys, our fans, so nine games to go.”
Van Dijk doesn’t believe the Reds are running out of steam after their blistering start to the campaign. They’ve run away with the league title and topped the Champions League group phase. It had many believing Liverpool would be winning multiple trophies this season.
Alexander Isak scored the second for Newcastle at Wembley
Alexander Isak scored the second for Newcastle at Wembley
When asked if the season was catching up on them, Van Dijk said: “No, I don't think so. I think it's easy to say because we in a decisive season and the last two games you are either in or out.
“You win or you lose. It was very disappointing to be knocked out of the Champions League, like we all saw after the game. We gave it everything, it wasn't enough, unfortunately, and today it was just disappointing in so many ways.
“We still could have maybe got a draw but I think they deserved it and that is the disappointing part.”
Liverpool now break up for the internationals before they return on April 2 against Everton in a Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Van Dijk added: “If you just think about it, it's only nine games to go. I don't know how much, with quick maths, it is in minutes but if you realise that if you win five games - obviously that's a very difficult job - you're going to be champions of England.
“If you keep these things in your mind it also can benefit you for working hard, for keep going in difficult moments, because I can guarantee you right now all those games that we have to coming up there will be so many difficult moments and if you're prepared to suffer, whether it is 1-0 down, 2-0, whatever, you have to keep going because you can see the end and you work so hard for it each and every day.”
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