Virgil van Dijk has reiterated his want for Liverpool to begin rapidly in opposition to West Ham and has insisted “there may be nonetheless an enormous job to be carried out.”
Whereas Liverpool’s outcomes haven’t all the time been a trigger for celebration in latest weeks, Van Dijk’s pre-match rallying calls have been constant of their fervour.
Forward of the Reds’ conflict with West Ham, the captain has used his pre-match programme column to name on the gamers to unite with supporters behind a typical trigger, three factors.
Van Dijk started by reflecting on final weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Fulham through which he made a few uncharacteristic particular person errors.
“The Premier League is an unforgiving place, and should you make errors and fall wanting the required requirements then you will get punished,” stated the Dutchman.
“That’s precisely what occurred down at Craven Cottage. Credit score goes to Fulham, nevertheless it was a poor day on the workplace for us, little doubt, and we now have to take it on the chin.”
The skipper was in a constructive temper, although, with consideration turning to Sunday’s Anfield event.
He added: “We’d like to ensure we’re prepared from the primary minute in opposition to West Ham.
“I’ve been saying for a very long time now that there’s nonetheless an enormous job to be carried out. Everybody on the skin will speak, however that’s not one thing we must always ever be involved by.
“We all know precisely what’s required over the approaching weeks, and we all know the requirements and the mentality wanted if we’re to realize our objectives.
“As I all the time say, every little thing begins with onerous work. We should be all-in on Sunday, and in every of our remaining video games. We should be collectively, absolutely targeted and able to give completely every little thing for the trigger.”
Virgil van Dijk remembers the Hillsborough catastrophe
Because the closest match to the thirty sixth anniversary of the Hillsborough catastrophe, Liverpool can pay tribute to the 97 who misplaced their lives.
Van Dijk paid his respects, saying: “I contemplate myself extraordinarily blessed to be the captain of this soccer membership, and on behalf of everyone on the membership we need to honour the lads, ladies and kids who misplaced their lives, and to pay our respects to all these affected by what occurred that day.
“You might be in our ideas, on this present day and all the time.”
A mosaic will likely be displayed on the Kop previous to kick-off to recollect the 97 followers who died on April 15, 1989.
There’s a commemorative version of the matchday programme and tributes may even be displayed on LED boards surrounding the pitch.
