Liverpool captain urges consistency and avoid complacency

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk emphasized the need to maintain consistency after the AC Milan victory in the Champions League. The Reds lost the last Premier League game 0-1 to Nottingham Forest at Anfield which shocked both fans and players.

Complacency played the biggest role in Liverpool’s loss and that persistent problem bothered the club during last season’s strenuous campaign. The Reds chased every trophy last season under former legendary manager Jurgen Klopp but failed to end the season strongly. They crashed out of the Europa League and the Premier League title race after a dip in the team’s form.

Liverpool cannot afford the same mistakes to haunt them under the new head coach Arne Slot despite its recent reoccurrence. The Reds need to maintain a high level of consistency and have depth in the squad to counter fixture congestion.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk warns the team against complacency and demanded more consistency.

Writing in his column in the matchday programme (via Liverpoolfc.com), Van Dijk emphasized the need to build upon the fantastic away win. He wrote:

“The key now is to build on that performance, and to deliver on a week-to-week basis. I have said many times that we remain a work in progress as a team, but we have shown already this season that there is a lot of talent within the squad. Now, it is about showing that consistently. That is on all of us. We have to stay fit, we have to do everything in our power to be ready for the next game, whether we start or not, and we have to feel part of winning games.”

Liverpool started the season strongly under Slot after registering three Premier League wins including the 0-3 victory over Manchester United. The September international break halted their rhythm and the Nottingham loss reopened the old wound as complacency is just unacceptable.

However, the away win against Milan gives Liverpool fans the hope that a poor result is merely a solitary occurrence. Van Dijk and other leaders in the locker room will play a crucial role in maintaining the squad’s focus.

Virgil van Dijk: It's now about showing our talent consistently 👊
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 20, 2024

The 33-year-old makes a strong point as Liverpool have a good depth to counter the congested fixture period. Every player in the squad will receive ample opportunity this season with the hope that Liverpool avoids any injury crisis.

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Furthermore, Liverpool needs to find a solution to their post-international break problems that hinder their momentum every time. As Liverpool faces Bournemouth on Saturday, the main focus remains on the game in hand for now.