Chelsea are once again in Jose’s sights
JURGEN Klopp says he has come to expect nothing but the best from Virgil van Dijk.
The inspirational defender scored both goals as Premier League leaders Liverpool increased their lead over champions Manchester City to 11 points with a nervy 2-1 win over Brighton on Saturday.
Van Dijk headed home twice from Trent Alexander-Arnold crosses in the first half at Anfield, putting his side on course for a comfortable triumph.
The expected cruise to victory did not materialise, chiefly because goalkeeper Alisson Becker was sent off for handball outside the area in the latter stages. Lewis Dunk pulled one back with a crafty free-kick and the 10-man Reds were left hanging on with deputy goalkeeper Adrian needing to make a number of saves.
But after the relief of the final whistle, the plaudits went to Van Dijk for a typically commanding display, although manager Klopp was keen to share the praise.
Klopp said: “He scored two goals. He’s good, really good, outstandingly good, but he has to be (because) he’s a very talented boy. He just has to use that talent and it would be a shame if he doesn’t.
“So yes, he’s incredibly important but if Virgil played the last line alone it would be pretty difficult. I think Dejan Lovren, who maybe doesn’t get the headlines like this, with what he’s playing, he has all my respect.
“We had to replace Fabinho, which is a tough one. Hendo (Jordan Henderson) played a sensational game in that position together with Gini (Wijnaldum) and Ox (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain).
“It was a really good performance but we had to work hard. And what I liked most, is that the boys were ready to do that. They didn’t think, ‘Brighton is coming, they have 15 points, so they cannot be that good’.
“They are really good and they have made life uncomfortable for all their opponents. Graham Potter is doing an outstanding job.
“If they start finishing the situations off that they create then it will be even more tough to play against them.”
Liverpool’s victory saw them equal the club record of 31 topflight matches unbeatem, set in 1987-88.
That previous record run ended with defeat to Everton, their next opponents at Anfield on Wednesday. Alisson will miss that derby through suspension.
Head boy: Virgil van Dijk celebrates his opener for Liverpool. Inset, being congratulated by Trent Alexander-Arnold
Klopp (below) added: “We scored two nice goals from set plays but the biggest chances we had were from open play.
“We could have and should have finished it off in that period, and we didn’t.
“In the second half it was hard work again and the boys put in another incredible shift.
“Of course life became more complicated with the red card and the change we had to make.
“We brought on a frozen goalkeeper. Everyone sitting here was not warm. Imagine going on there with shorts, a really thin shirt and gloves that are
not made for keeping you warm.
“Then some people make the free-kick happen like that. We looked a bit silly in that moment but you have to accept it. “We carried on fighting and Adrian helped us with two really good saves and crosses he caught, but with his cold feet he couldn’t kick the ball as far as he wanted. It kept it interesting but in the end the most important thing is we won the game. “I am very pleased about that, happy about the effort of the boys and proud of the desire they showed. The red card made it a really special win.”
Brighton are next in action at Arsenal on Thursday and, although they have now lost three in succession, Dunk feels they can look ahead with confidence.
The Seagulls captain, who netted with a quick set-piece as Liverpool reorganised following Alisson’s dismissal, said: “It shows we can come to the big teams and more than compete.
“If we can take the chances we create then we’ll be a really tough side to play.
“We have to learn from the start.
“We were too passive and the goals we conceded weren’t like us.
“But we have to take the positives from the other 75 minutes when we were in control.”
JOSE Mourinho wants his Tottenham side to stay in touch with Chelsea before their blockbusting Premier League match later this month.
Spurs were 12 points behind Mourinho’s former club and looking out of Champions League contention when he took the job 10 days ago, but back-toback Premier League wins and successive losses for Chelsea have seen that gap cut to six.
Chelsea visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 22 for what is sure to be an intriguing clash and Mourinho wants his side to still be within touching distance.
Spurs face Manchester United away, Burnley at home and Wolves away before then, while Chelsea host Aston Villa and Bournemouth, with a trip to Everton in between.
“We play Chelsea at the end of December, if the game was tomorrow, we would play them with six points difference, it would be a fantastic situation to play them,” Mourinho said after his side beat Bournemouth 3-2 on Saturday.
“We have to keep close, as close as possible. But we have a lot to work on and a lot to improve.”
Spurs are at least back in the race for another top-four finish, something that looked dead until Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino. The Portuguese has reignited Spurs and taken them from 14th up to fifth.
They led Bournemouth 3-0 thanks to goals from Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko before a late drop-off saw them concede two late goals to substitute Harry Wilson, the first a sublime freekick and the second in the sixth minute of stoppage time.