Van Dijk dismisses fans’ argument that exiting Europe would help Premier League title bid: ‘We want to compete at highest level on two fronts’

VIRGIL VAN DIJK insists Liverpool MUST have the ambition to compete at the highest level – and that means targeting double glory. The Dutch defender, a tower of strength at the heart of one of the meanest defences in the business, dismissed the suggestion from some fans it could be a blessing in disguise tonight if the Reds crash out of the Champions League, allowing them to concentrate solely on title glory.

He said: “I don’t think they are true Liverpool fans if they are saying that.” Instead, Van Dijk claimed Jurgen Klopp has the squad – with the best defence in Europe – to win both competitions. As they face a winnertakes-all showdown with Napoli for a place in the knockout stage, Van Dijk responded to the suggestion losing would not be a disaster by arguing his team must show the greatest ambition to be taken seriously. “We want to compete on the highest level,” he said. “As a club we have to stay on the highest level and do everything we can to go through. 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.“

He is keen to avenge a 1-0 defeat in Naples in October and emphasised: “It is in our hands.

“We have to show we belong in the Champions League and we want to show that we are much better than what they have seen over there.”

For Van Dijk, the equation is simple. The best clubs do not prioritise one competition at the cost of another, and so Liverpool have to believe they can win both the Champions League and the Premier League.

Victory against the Italians is essential but 1-0 will do and the stats show they have the defence to keep that vital clean sheet. Incredibly, the Reds have conceded just six goals in the Premier League all season.

That makes them the most resilient defence across the five big leagues in Europe – ahead of even Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

And Van Dijk says that gives the squad great belief. He went on: “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. A night like Napoli at Anfield.

“It is going to be very tough but it’s going to be very tough for them as well.

“I can’t wait to get out there and hear the fans going crazy.

“Hopefully from the start we make sure we set the tone and hopefully it will be a special night.

“We have not been at our best in the group, so we deserve to be in this position. But if we don’t win, we don’t deserve to be in the Champions League. “Napoli are one of the most dangerous teams in Europe – but so are we. I don’t know about putting things right, but I do know we have to believe we can do it.”

With Joe Gomez – who yesterday signed a new fiveand-a-half-year – injured, Van Dijk is likely to be partnered in central defence by Dejan Lovren (left), who came through a training session unscathed last night.