Virgil van Dijk reveals concern for Liverpool team-mates - 'I can't control everyone'
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk hopes his team-mates will not be distracted by social media hype around their quest for trophies and will remind the dressing room to block out external noise
by Alan Smith · The MirrorVirgil van Dijk admits he is concerned about Liverpool players being distracted by the hype that has built around their drive for silverware.
And the Reds captain says he cannot keep everyone in the dressing room away from social media as Arne Slot’s Premier League leaders face their first sticky patch of a season that had been coasting along.
Wednesday’s defeat away to Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final followed a surprise draw against Manchester United.
It is the first time they have gone two games without a win under Slot and Van Dijk concedes it is a challenge to ignore the expectation that has built around a potential quadruple push.
“Don’t listen to all the noise from the outside because at the start of the season no one was thinking that we would be where we are right now," he said. "There’s no point listening.”
But asked if that might be a big challenge for some members of the squad, Van Dijk added: “Of course, of course it could. Social media is a big thing, a big part of peoples’ lives. I can’t control everyone’s emotions but I’ll definitely mention it in there.”
Liverpool face Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup this weekend before visiting high-flying Nottingham Forest in the league next Tuesday. And Van Dijk has no doubt that the Reds, who are also top of the Champions League league phase with two games to play, will face “more difficult moments” as the intensity ramps up.
“That’s a fact,” he added. “But we’ve been there before. That’s the beauty of playing for Liverpool. Every game is difficult, the pressure is always on us as players because of the size of the club. You have to embrace it and we’re really looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Liverpool will play another seven games before hosting Spurs for the second leg on February 6. And while Van Dijk was annoyed that Lucas Bergvall had not been sent off before putting Tottenham in front, he said there is no sense of panic at being one goal down.
He added: “We’re still more than in the tie. Our performance was at times good, at times not good enough. We have to be better.
“I don’t like losing and the manner in which we lost was not necessary. But we have an opportunity to make it right in a few weeks’ time.”
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