Virgil van Dijk knows that it’s going to be a tough game against Newcastle United at Anfield on Saturday night (kick-off 8pm).
Both sides are inconsistent at the moment, but Liverpool will be hoping for a repeat of the 6-0 performance against FK Qarabag on Wednesday night. Florian Wirtz is starting to look like the player we paid Bayer Leverkusen £107m for last summer and Mo Salah appears to be enjoying himself in a Liverpool shirt again after his recent AFCON adventure with Egypt.
“The test for us now is to follow on from the Qarabag performance, build on it and show some consistency,” the skipper said in his matchday programme notes.
“Like I say, we know that we are playing against a very good side this evening, one that will fight and compete for everything, and which went to Paris Saint-Germain and got a result in midweek.
“We beat them at their place earlier in the season, but it was an extremely tough game in a tough atmosphere, and we had to dig deep to get the victory, with Rio Ngumoha scoring the winner very late on.
“We are expecting another battle tonight. We know the challenges Newcastle will pose. They are strong and physical, and they have good, experienced players across the pitch.
“A key difference this time, though, is that it will be you guys who are creating the atmosphere.
“I’ve said it many times before but that makes such a difference to us as players. We want Anfield to be the place that no opposition player wants to play, and we have seen what can happen when that is the case.
“We know that we have to deliver on the pitch first and foremost, but I can’t wait to see and hear you all this evening.
“Together, let’s go out there and make it another special Anfield night.”
