Virgil van Dijk: We'll do everything to get 97 points
Virgil van Dijk feels 'anything is possible' if Liverpool achieve their objective of 97 points at the end of the Premier League season.
Heading into the penultimate round of matches this weekend, the Reds trail reigning champions Manchester City by a single point.
Jürgen Klopp’s side travel to Newcastle United on Saturday night knowing victory at St. James’ Park would put pressure on City for their Monday evening clash with Leicester City.
Van Dijk insists Liverpool cannot let events elsewhere enter their thinking, which, he says, has to remain on the target of two more wins to sign off the campaign.
“Anything is still possible,” the centre-back told Premier League Productions.
“We have two games left; we’ll try everything we can to win both games – that’s the only thing we can focus on and if anything changes with Man City, it will be fantastic for us. If not, we end the season hopefully with 97 points and we did everything we could.”
Last Sunday, Van Dijk was named the 2018-19 PFA Players’ Player of the Year in recognition of his outstanding consistency in the middle of Liverpool’s defence – the meanest in the Premier League with only 20 goals conceded.
“It has been [a special season], I’m enjoying every bit of it. I’m fit and I’ve played almost every game of the season, apart from the last 30 minutes against Southampton at home,” added the No.4.
“It has been fantastic for all of us, we’ve been enjoying every bit of it and hopefully we can continue that.”
Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle boast a formidable recent record at St. James’ Park.
The Magpies have won six of their last seven Premier League home matches during a run that has lifted them comfortably clear of the relegation zone.
But Van Dijk believes Liverpool can approach the encounter with their confidence undiminished by the final result in Barcelona on Wednesday night.
“It’s going to be a very tough game. They are in good form right now, they must be feeling great, and they have had some time to prepare for us as well, so it’s going to be tough,” he said.
“But we have been playing very well lately; the defeat in Barcelona is something that doesn’t sum our form up. We go in there full of confidence still and wanting to win the game.”