Liverpool must ignore Manchester City: Virgil van Dijk talks 'the only way forward'

Van Dijk says Liverpool must focus on themselves instead of the champions
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David Lynch12 November 2018

Virgil van Dijk insists Liverpool cannot afford to do anything but focus on themselves as they bid to keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

But the Dutchman is convinced that Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions won’t continue to pick up easy wins on a weekly basis as a long season progresses.

The Reds moved to the summit of the English top-flight by beating Fulham 2-0 on Sunday but were quickly relegated back to second place by City’s 3-1 win over rivals Manchester United later in the day.

Asked if Jurgen Klopp’s side can continue to keep up with the leaders, Van Dijk replied: “That is something we still need to see.

“They are the champions and the best team in the league but we will try everything to be as good as we can.

In Pictures | Liverpool vs Fulham | 11/11/2018

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“We don't have to look at others, we want to look at the games we have and the next challenge we have as Liverpool is Watford away, which is going to be tough.

“For us the challenge is to win or try to win every game that is ahead of us. The season is very long.

“They are not going to win every game 5-0 and are going to have tough games like everyone else.

“We need to look at what we have ahead of us and that is more important than looking at someone else. It is the only way forward."

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Liverpool’s brief stay on top yesterday owed much to Xherdan Shaqiri’s second goal for the club - a brilliant volleyed finish into the Kop-end net to secure a 2-0 lead.

Van Dijk has been impressed by the Swiss’ recent contributions and believes his ‘different qualities’ are helping establish him as a key man for the Reds.

He added: “He's been playing well. He is working hard like everyone else and when he gets his chance he is doing well.

“He scored but he's been pretty important the last couple of games he's been involved, which is good for all of us.

“Other players have that in them but Shaqiri is a guy with different qualities and with his left foot he is always dangerous.

“He has been doing well and we are very happy to have him.”

The 27-year-old was also delighted to register a seventh league clean sheet of the season in shutting out Slavisa Jokanovic’s team.

Liverpool have now conceded just five goals from their first 12 games in the Premier League - their best record since the division was rebranded in 1992.

Van Dijk continued: “We can be very positive about that. It was very important, especially second half, to keep it tight at the back and I'm glad we did.

“I just enjoying playing for Liverpool, it doesn't really matter who is standing next to me. I am happy to be out there; we have great centre-backs and even Joel is not even on the bench and that says a lot about our squad as well.

“Me and Joe are getting along really well outside the pitch and that helps on the pitch as well.”

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