Virgil van Dijk, the captain of Liverpool, is well aware of the immense importance of their Sunday victory against Manchester City. Still, he’s not getting carried away with chants of a title win just yet.
As the Premier League leaders, Liverpool made a significant leap toward securing the title by taking advantage of Arsenal’s Saturday loss to West Ham, securing a composed 2-0 victory at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium.
This win, marked by stellar performances and goals from the ever-reliable Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai, catapulted the Reds 11 points ahead at the top of the league with only 11 matches remaining. After shaky displays against teams like Everton, Wolves, and Aston Villa, this result was a robust statement, especially against the reigning champions of the last four years.
Although Arsenal holds a game in hand, the passionate “we’re going to win the league” chants from Liverpool fans reflected their soaring confidence after such a decisive weekend.
Van Dijk commented, “It was a big win, but just a few days ago, there was a lot of talk about different outcomes, and things can change quickly.”
Addressing the atmosphere, he added, “For the fans, the results over the weekend are a great morale booster. But for us, it’s crucial to stay focused on one game at a time, which is exactly what I’ve been emphasizing to the team.”
“It’s now about recuperation and gearing up for Newcastle, which will be another tough challenge.”
City started the game on a strong note, but Liverpool took command in the 14th minute when Salah scored from a well-coordinated corner involving Szoboszlai. Their partnership shone again when Salah assisted the Hungarian for Liverpool’s second goal just 37 minutes in.
While Salah certainly stole the limelight, adding to his impressive season tally of 30 goals and 21 assists, Liverpool’s defensive resilience was the backbone of this win—their first league triumph at City since 2015.
Reflecting on the achievement, Van Dijk noted, “It took us ten years to get a win in this league fixture, so it’s been long overdue. It was a thoroughly strong performance—solid in attack and commendable in defense—which earned us those three crucial points.”
He continued, “We had to defend with every fiber because we know the damage City can inflict. Fortunately, we executed our plan well. Now, it’s on to the next game.”
Next up, Liverpool will face Newcastle, a team also vying for Champions League spots and who they’ll meet again in the Carabao Cup final next month. Meanwhile, Arsenal braces for a challenging matchup against third-placed Nottingham Forest.
Van Dijk concluded by asserting, “I’m not concerned about what other teams are doing. As I’ve always said, our focus is inward, concentrating on our own performances. We make sure not to take our victories for granted. It’s about heading home, recovering, and preparing for Newcastle. That’s our sole focus; nothing else matters.”
