Having headed into the March international break on the back of a pair of difficult losses to Newcastle United in the League Cup final and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Round of 16, Liverpool return to action this week looking to make a statement against local rivals Everton.
They’ll also perhaps be looking for a little revenge at Anfield tonight after their away date against the Blues led to a 2-2 draw in a match that ended up equal parts disappointing and controversial following a late Everton equalizer and then a post-match scuffle that led to multiple red cards.
“We know what to expect from Everton,” said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk ahead of Wednesday night’s kickoff. “We only have to go back a few weeks to see that. The game at Goodison Park in February was really tough and ended in disappointment, but we know we can play better.
“It’s been a long time since we played a league fixture, and after the disappointments of the Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle games, we are all keen to get back out there and put a few wrongs right. We had a bad week, we can’t deny that, but now we are all fully focused on what’s in front of us.”
What’s in front of them is a chance to clinch the club’s 20th league title over the coming weeks, to perhaps extend their 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, and to put an exclamation mark on a season that had on balance been going exceptionally up until the last two games.
There had been questions about a squad looking tired at times in the new year, but for the most part the results were still there—or at least enough of them were—to keep the Reds in the mix for three trophies until those disappointing results in the last two games heading into the March break.
“We know what is at stake over the next nine games,” Van Dijk added. “We know the position we are in and the things that have put us there. We have five home games remaining, starting on Wednesday. Nine huge games, starting with a Merseyside derby under the lights at Anfield. Perfect.”