Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has declared the FA Cup as a vital opportunity for his side to demonstrate they remain a championship-winning force, following a hard-fought goalless draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Turning point after Emirates stalemate
The Reds ground out a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night, a result van Dijk hopes could signal a turning point after a season he admits has been "very inconsistent and difficult." The Dutch defender highlighted his team's solid 90-minute performance as a positive step forward.
With their league title defence faltering, focus now shifts to the cup competitions. Liverpool host League One side Barnsley in the FA Cup third round on Monday night, a match van Dijk is eagerly anticipating as a platform to rebuild momentum.
"We have to be ready for a big fight"
Van Dijk, who lifted the FA Cup with Liverpool in 2022, stressed the importance of the historic tournament. "Any competition is important, but definitely the FA Cup is important," he stated. "Barnsley will come to us on Monday, and I am looking forward to that game. They will try everything in order to get through, and we have to be ready for a big fight."
The centre-back insists the squad still has everything to play for, with the Champions League also in their sights. He pointed to the team's current ten-game unbeaten run as evidence that form is beginning to return.
"There are still a lot of games to play, and a lot of opportunities to go out and show why we are Liverpool and why we are the reigning champions," van Dijk asserted. "Winning breeds confidence and always helps. But we are in a position where we don’t want to be. We are the current champions."
Captain's call for consistency
The Liverpool skipper did not shy away from criticising the team's campaign so far, but emphasised that the power to change their fortunes lies within the dressing room. "It has been a very inconsistent and difficult season so far... But the only ones that can turn that around is us, with the manager," he said.
He added that the key to rediscovering success is the consistency that propelled them to last season's title, something that has been notably absent. "We have been very inconsistent, and consistency is the key to being successful... That is what we had last year and unfortunately in that sense we haven’t been good enough this season."
With a crucial period of fixtures ahead, van Dijk's message is clear: Liverpool must use every match, starting with the FA Cup clash against Barnsley, to prove their champion pedigree remains intact.
