Virgil van Dijk has cautioned that Liverpool must raise their standards if they are to hold onto their Premier League crown. The Liverpool skipper maintains they are savouring Sunday’s title clash with Arsenal following both rivals securing victories in their opening two fixtures. Nevertheless, Van Dijk acknowledged the manner in which Liverpool are shipping goals – having conceded four across their opening triumphs against Bournemouth and Newcastle – represents a significant concern.
The Netherlands centre-back argues this should be a greater source of anxiety for Liverpool than Arsenal‘s £300million transfer splurge as the Gunners attempt to hunt down and surpass the champions. Van Dijk declared: “I look at it that we have to keep improving to retain the title. Many teams improved their squad but it is down to us personally to find the consistency and win games and nothing else matters.
“In the other years we were successful, we didn’t look at the other teams. There is no point because all of the teams in the Premier League, in my opinion, are very good. I’m really looking forward to it.
“We’re playing a fantastic team with a great manager, that has been challenging for the Premier League for many years now as well. The games we played against each other are very intense as well.
“We have a week now to prepare and we will recover now and then we have to be ready. The Premier League has no easy games so it doesn’t really matter who you are going to face – it is always going to be difficult, especially when we’re at the stage we’re at right now where the transfer window is still open.
“Things could still happen in and out and after the international break, we have the team to go forward.” Van Dijk highlighted the need to improve at set pieces, which proved their achilles heel once more against Newcastle.
Despite the remarkable fighting spirit displayed, he emphasised that tightening up defensively must be their priority.
He continued: “After you win a game, then it is maybe easier to give an answer. But I think we have to get back into it a little bit. I won’t say the performance was bad because we played against a team that was very intense from the start until the end, and it is a difficult place to come.
“But there were so many good moments as well. And at this stage of the season, especially at the start, it is all about the points.
“We’re doing pretty well. We don’t want to concede goals and I think today we conceded two goals from set-pieces. Those two goals got Newcastle back in the game and gave them belief. That is something we have to keep working on, and we will.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk