´It´s all down to us´ – Van Dijk demands Liverpool seal top-eight finish - Soccer News

[ad_1] Virgil van Dijk urged his Liverpool team-mates to get the job carried out and seal their spot within the final 16 of the Champions League after breezing previous Marseille on Wednesday.

The Reds produced an emphatic show on the Stade Velodrome, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo’s strikes coming both facet of an personal purpose from Geronimo Rulli.

Certainly, Liverpool stay unbeaten in every of their final 13 matches in all competitions (W7 D6), the longest ongoing streak of any workforce from Europe’s high 5 leagues.

For the reason that begin of final time period, no workforce has received extra away video games within the league part of UEFA’s flagship competitors than Liverpool (P8 W6 L2), stage with Arsenal (P8 W6 D1 L1).

Liverpool’s newest triumph has moved them as much as fourth within the 36-team standings and onto 15 factors, with Azerbaijani facet Qarabag their closing league-phase opponents subsequent week.

“It’s essential as you miss the play-offs, and it helps with the extreme programme that we’re having. It’s all all the way down to us once more subsequent week, at dwelling,” Van Dijk stated.

“Let’s ensure we’re within the high eight. We’ve put ourselves in a great place, however that’s for subsequent week.”

Van Dijk, although, was additionally eager to give attention to Liverpool’s upcoming conflict with Bournemouth within the Premier League, having drawn their final 4 video games within the competitors.

“We at all times maintain saying it after a win or a great end result. We’ll absolutely give attention to restoration now, after which we go to Bournemouth, and so they’re onerous to beat,” Van Dijk added.

“We now have to be greater than prepared. We fly again tomorrow. Onto the following.”

Three factors and a clear sheet #UCL pic.twitter.com/1d5TGHI5mw

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 21, 2026

Liverpool boss Arne Slot echoed the feelings of his captain in regard to ending within the high eight, saying it was key to keep away from further video games because of their harm checklist.

“Folks can see what a squad we've got,” Slot added.

“We now have three gamers out with accidents, and we already don’t have the scale of squad that our opponents have, so it’s vital we don’t play these video games.”

Forward of kick-off, Slot anticipated objectives to return to the squad with Mohamed Salah again concerned after lacking the final month, as he represented Egypt on the Africa Cup of Nations.

Although not on the scoresheet, Salah, who made his 88th look in main European competitors for Liverpool, shifting stage with Ian Callaghan, helped play a starring function within the Reds registering an anticipated objectives (xG) whole of 1.49 from their 11 pictures.

“It might have been a difficult place to go, and it's due to their followers, but additionally due to their gamers and supervisor. We needed to be superb as we speak, and we had been,” Slot stated.

“We should always have carried out higher on the counter-attack. We had been very optimistic on the ball.

“We scored three and everybody will probably be extra optimistic than after we create 5 probabilities however rating one. Within the final 13 video games unbeaten, we’ve solely been behind for 54 minutes.

“We had many earlier probabilities to win it as we speak. At the moment, we in all probability deserve what we received. We weren’t unfortunate, like we’ve been so many occasions this season.

“I do know why we’re not constant and that's primarily carried out when a recreation is open. It's fully totally different from taking part in towards a low block.

“You can not examine that with the sport tonight, when each groups needed to press and play out from the again. If we’re inconsistent, it’s as a result of we battle with low blocks.”