Group stage knockout is not an option says Van Dijk
VIRGIL VAN DIJK is refusing to even entertain the thought of sacrificing the Champions League to focus on a push for the Premier League title.
Liverpool leapfrogged Manchester City to go top on Saturday when they thrashed Bournemouth 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium.
But last season’s Champions League finalists could crash out of Europe tonight if they slip up at home to Napoli.
Some might see that as a blessing in disguise for a club that hasn’t won the league title since 1990.
But Dutch defender Van Dijk, 27, said: “I don’t think they are Liverpool fans.
“We want to compete on the highest level. We are top of the league now but it could change next week. You never know.
Tough
“The main thing for us is to stay on the highest level and to do everything we can to go through.
“It is going to be a tough game but I am very confident, like always in my team.
“At Liverpool there is always a lot of pressure, but it is good pressure. You want to play in these circumstances.
“I definitely look at the squad and think it can compete on two fronts. We still need to show it but I think we are definitely capable of competing in both competitions.
“Hopefully that will be the case.”
Liverpool have lost three games so far to leave them staring at an early exit.
But Group C is so delicately balanced that the Reds could still finish top, bottom or anywhere in between.
All that Jurgen
Klopp’s men know for certain is that they must beat the
Italians 1-0 or by two clear goals to reach the knockout stages.
Any other one-goal win would leave the Italians with a better head-to-head record over Klopp’s side owing to their last-gasp win at home in October.
It is all set up for another magical European evening at Anfield but one that could also turn into a nervy night.
“We need to start fast, set the tone, put them under pressure and play the game,” said Van Dijk.
“Be brave, be confident, don’t hide. Show yourself and try and do that all together.
“You don’t want to be in a situation we are in where we could get knocked out but we want to show we belong in the Champions League.
“It’s our own fault we are in this position but we have a way of getting out of it.
“We caused the situation, we are responsible for it, but we still have the chance to go through and that is pretty special. It is basically a final.
“The most important thing is we focus on our game.
“Obviously we have been doing brilliantly so far this season but obviously in the Champions league everything has not been as good as everyone hoped.
“But we should be confident about the situation. We are top of the league and we still have a chance to go through in the Champions League – it’s in our hands a little bit.
“If we don’t win, we don’t deserve to be in the Champions League.” also includes Paris St-Germain and Red Star Belgrade, leaving themselves with it all to do.
They need to beat Napoli 1-0 or by two clear goals to progress to the knockout stages.
Any other one-goal win would see Liverpool crash out as the Italians
would have a better head-to-head record.
Klopp said: “We have the chance still to go through, that is special after the campaign we played.
“Now we have to create a special atmosphere with the way we play, and we have to use the atmosphere as well.
“It is a big opportunity
for us and we will try everything to put it right.”
Klopp – who has not lost a European game at Anfield as Liverpool boss – has urged his players to treat it like any other game despite the permutations that could lead to a nervy night.
He added: “The only thing that is clear is if we go 1-0 up then it is not like it would usually be at 1-0. If they score we then have to score a second and a third and that is a very hard job to do.
“We knew that already. Now we have to do the job. We all know the results we need, and it is quite difficult.”
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has signed a new six-year deal.