Virgil van Dijk has laughed off suggestions that Liverpool’s clash with Arsenal on Sunday was a ‘title decider’ and said people who thought it was ‘have no clue’ as there is still a long way to go regardless of the results
The Reds drew 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday after twice coming from behind, with the captain himself scoring alongside Mohamed Salah to cancel out goals from Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino.
A point at Arsenal was seen as a positive by many in the Liverpool camp even though it saw them cede top spot to Manchester City, who won on Saturday, but Van Dijk did not see it as an early-season title decider despite many thinking as much.
‘I don’t know (how important the point was),’ he said. ‘We are in October. People spoke about that if you lose today, you will lose the league, and they have absolutely no clue in my opinion.
‘Because this season is so, so long and there are so many twists and turns that could happen and will happen, but we focus on the games ahead.
The season is so long. Over the years I have mentioned it. The team that sets a very good foundation before December, and then goes through December in the best way possible, without any injuries and good results has a good chance to be top of the league.
‘But we focus on one game at a time. It was a tough one today for both sides. We got a point. We go back and we focus on Brighton because that one will be a tough game on Wednesday (in the Carabao Cup) as well.’
Van Dijk was quizzed on how new head coach Arne Slot has gone somewhat under the radar and the Dutchman said the new boss has made an outstanding start. ‘At the start of the season when a new manager is coming in nobody thinks about how good it could go,’ he added.
The results have been outstanding. We are just trying to win the game ahead, improve and be the best version of ourselves as a team and individuals, too. The games we have played so far, we have shown amazing football, defending and attacking.
But there are also moments that we have to improve and we all know and realise that. And that is the focus on a daily basis before and after the games we play. There are many things we can analyse, good things but also the lesser good things, and that is the focus we have.’
