DEFENSIVE rock Virgil van Dijk is never willing to let standards slip, even in the dying embers of a late-season dead rubber against Brighton with the title already in the bag.
Since wilting to a 4-0 defeat at Manchester City in the immediate aftermath of clinching the title, van Dijk and Co have gotten straight back to business, picking up wins against Aston Villa and now the Seagulls.
Van Dijk and Co secured yet another victory on the South CoastCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Mohamed Salah’s second goal on the night on 76 minutes put the Reds 3-1 up, effectively sealing the win.
But doesn’t mean that leader van Dijk, 29, was going to let his team-mates drop their standards for even a second.
Journalist Sam Cunningham tweeted: “Love that. 3-1 up, 90th minute. Title already won. Liverpool forwards aren’t pressing Brighton’s defenders. Van Dijk: ‘C’mon boys you’re getting f***ing lazy!'”
By this point in the match, Salah remained on the field, while Sadio Mane and new-boy Takumi Minamino had replaced starters Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino.
Van Dijk in this moment epitomised the mentality that has seen Liverpool so relentlessly march to the title this season.
After a 3-1 comeback victory at Southampton last season, Klopp referred to his team as “a f***ing bunch of mentality monsters.”
And this amazing mindset has put Liverpool on the verge of breaking City’s Premier League points record.
The Reds need just three wins from their remaining four games to better Pep Guardiola’s side’s 100-point haul from two years ago.
Jurgen Klopp is refusing to be drawn on talk of breaking City’s points recordCredit: PA:Press Association
But the German, 53, is refusing to be drawn on the subject.
On the matter, he told the BBC: “It’s not important for me, I’m not interested in any of this but I want to win football games.
“For sports people in general it might be important. We are champions and it could be softening but it is not – the boys go with everything.
“We have 92 points and last season we had 97. We got five points more than this last season – that’s unbelievable, I have no idea how we did that.”
Mo Salah’s double sealed victory for the RedsCredit: EPA
The Reds’ next game sees them host Burnley at Anfield, before a trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal.
Their final home game of the season then comes next, when Frank Lampard and Chelsea travel to the North West likely still trying to clinch a Champions League spot.
This memorable Liverpool season will then finally come to a close against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Jurgen Klopp says Adam Lallana is refusing to play for Liverpool again over fears injury might end big-money free transfer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
