… Says be prepared to fight for the win
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has issued a rallying cry ahead of Sunday’s big Premier League clash against Chelsea at Anfield, urging his teammates to be “prepared to fight” for the win.
Writing in the official matchday programme, the Dutch captain acknowledged the Blues’ impressive start under Enzo Maresca and warned against underestimating their strength.
“They have a squad full of very good footballers, players who can cause problems for any team,” van Dijk stated.
He highlighted the importance of being fully focused and ready from the first whistle, recognising that recent history against Chelsea counts for nothing in this crucial encounter.
“We need to be somewhere near our best if we are to get the result we want,” he added.
With a challenging schedule ahead, featuring seven games in 20 days across three competitions, van Dijk emphasized the need for every player to be at their peak.
“We want to be playing in big games, competing in the Champions League, at the top end of the Premier League,” he stated. “This is exactly what we want.”
The defender also praised his teammates’ performances during the recent international break, particularly Conor Bradley’s captaincy debut for Northern Ireland and the standout displays of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Luis Diaz.
While expressing satisfaction with Liverpool’s strong start to the season, Van Dijk stressed the need for consistency and improvement.
“We don’t want to be remembered as a side which flew out of the blocks and then faded away,” he concluded.
“We want to get stronger and stronger as the season progresses, delivering big performances and big results on a consistent basis.”
Sunday’s clash promises to be a captivating encounter as both teams look to maintain their early season momentum and solidify their place in the Premier League’s elite.
