ReactionVirgil van Dijk: It was a great win - we had to make something right here
Virgil van Dijk was pleased to see a proper response from Liverpool away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night.
Fewer than 72 hours after suffering a defeat at Molineux in the Premier League, the Reds returned there to win 3-1 and progress in the Emirates FA Cup.
Goals in the second half from Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones secured a spot in the quarter-finals.
Speaking to TNT Sports post-match, Van Dijk said: "I think it was a very disappointing night [on Tuesday], especially a very disappointing last 20 minutes of the game, and we had to make something right here.
"Obviously the FA Cup is very important for us, like always, but especially this season and hopefully we can keep going. Great win."
On the difference in the performance on Friday night, the captain continued: "It's easy to say it now because you win but I think the pace [and] we kept playing.
"I think there was a lot of one-v-one moments on the side. Rio [Ngumoha] was outstanding, made life difficult for their right wing-back, right centre-back as well at times.
"We kept pushing. We found the first goal and that changed the rest of the game as well – it opened up a little bit more. Then scoring the second and third, it was game over."
Ngumoha was handed the fifth start of his professional career and impressed during a 69-minute outing in the West Midlands.
"Obviously we all see day in, day out how special [a] talent he is in terms of one-v-ones and the pace he drives at players," Van Dijk said of the 17-year-old.
"He's working hard, he's a good boy and we are looking after him. We speak to him constantly and he needs to keep learning, keep soaking it all up and take it into his progress.
"[Friday] was a good day for him. Nothing more, nothing less. He has to keep going."
Liverpool will discover their opponents in the last eight of the FA Cup on Monday evening but their focus will be on another competition by then.
Van Dijk and his teammates are heading to Galatasaray for the first leg of a Champions League Round of 16 tie.
The No.4 finished: "To get silverware is always our aim. I've been very privileged to experience so many good nights and winning silverware with this beautiful club and that's what we aim for.
"But this season obviously has been very difficult for a lot of reasons and I said it from day one that it was going to be a very difficult season.
"But we're here now, we've made progress, but obviously now and then we are also not doing well and that's what we have to take in our process.
"That's what we did [at Wolves], we played well, we won and [it is] on to the next game.
"Now it's Champions League where we will focus on a very difficult game where our ears will be tested as well again.
"But it's nice. It's an absolute blessing to be out there again and hopefully we can get a good result there."