Virgil van Dijk urges Liverpool to stay focused after Merseyside derby win - 'Everyone wants to be in our position'
Published 02/04/2025 at 23:42 GMT+1
Diogo Jota's goal was decisive as Liverpool edged past Everton in a typically tense, hard-fought Merseyside derby at Anfield on Wednesday night. It took Arne Slot's side 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League, and Virgil van Dijk issued a rallying cry to his team-mates ahead of the weekend's trip to Craven Cottage. Liverpool are now unbeaten in 26 league games.
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Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool are in pole position to win the Premier League title after Wednesday night's Merseyside derby win.
Diogo Jota's second-half goal was the difference between the teams at Anfield as Arne Slot's side extended their lead at the summit to 12 points.
And Van Dijk suggested Liverpool are the envy of the division having established a seemingly unassailable lead.
"Everyone wants to be in our position," the Reds captain told Sky Sports. "Now we have to keep going and keep the same mentality as we have been doing all season.
"We have to keep going. We have a tough one again in London on Sunday [against Fulham]."
Van Dijk acknowledged the challenge posed by Everton, adding: "They make it very difficult for you. They have a certain way of playing and you have to be ready for all the aspects."
The Dutchman refused to be drawn on the controversy surrounding James Tarkowksi's first-half tackle, which left Alexis Mac Allister needing medical attention. A VAR check deemed the tackle worthy only of a yellow card.
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"It is what it is. The referee and VAR make decisions and we all have to deal with it," Van Dijk said.
Liverpool boss Slot was equally reluctant to directly criticise the decision.
"Alexis is okay because he kept on playing," Slot said. "I think everybody has said something about it, so why should I add to it.
"It's so obvious that it's not necessary for me to comment. I'd prefer to talk about the goal or Curtis Jones' performance or something else."
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Slot praised his side's ability to dig out victory against an Everton side that defended resolutely throughout.
"A very, very difficult team to play against because of their playing style," he said.
"That's not only for us, but for every team because they were nine games unbeaten. A very good manager has brought them back to life.
"The amount of shots they blocked, the effort they put in to defend inside their own box, and then the threat they had on the counter-attack. So difficult to play against.
"But our boys showed immense character, I think we created more then in the away game, and in the end we scored a good goal and kept a clean sheet.
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"I liked much more what I saw here than the away game. I could feel that we were getting closer, but there's a reason they hardly ever concede a goal or a chance. They bring so many bodies back, and they've players who are so good at blocking shots.
"We knew if we wanted to win this game we had to keep a clean sheet. To score more than one goal would have been very hard."
Everton manager David Moyes, meanwhile, expressed his frustration on the match-winning goal, insisting play should have been stopped for an offside in the build-up.
"The players behind Jarrad [Branthwaite] interfere with him clearing it," he said. "It is an easy decision to give. I cannot understand any reason why that wasn't given offside."
On his side's performance, Moyes added: "Liverpool were the better team and that's why they're top of the league, but we showed great resilience and we stuck at it.
"A bit gut-wrenching when you feel the end result has come from something which wasn't deserved.
"We have been on a great run, the players have been doing brilliantly well. First defeat in 10 games.
"I thought we tried to close that gap from their levels to our levels tonight. At the moment, they're the best team in the league.
"Tonight, we have done a lot of things not as well as we should have done."
Liverpool are next in Premier League action away to Fulham on Sunday, while Everton host Arsenal on Saturday - the Goodison Park clash live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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