NewsVirgil van Dijk: It's all about being consistent now

The Reds followed up a 1-0 Champions League victory at Internazionale by seeing off Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 at Anfield on Saturday.

Hugo Ekitike provided both goals in the defeat of the Seagulls as Arne Slot's men made it five games unbeaten.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Van Dijk insisted there is still plenty of work to do to build on that run - but also the required hunger.

"The mood in the dressing room has always been very good. It can obviously go down in terms of performances, if you win or lose," said the captain, who made his 250th top-flight appearance for the club.

"But the main thing I see is that we all have the will to turn this around, and the hunger and energy to do so. But obviously it's about what happens between those white lines in 95 minutes. That's what we can influence and that's what we want to do.

"[Against Brighton] and also midweek, we did that very well. But we all know the season is still so long.

"We want to be consistent, because that's something I've experienced for almost all my time at Liverpool. We just have to keep going and stay calm."

The results versus Inter and Brighton came as a response to Liverpool surrendering leads of 2-0 and 3-2 at Leeds United previously.

Asked about the Reds managing those games better, Van Dijk said: "Very pleasing. I've been very fortunate, especially at Anfield, to win a lot of games and keep clean sheets and feel like there is no way a team could beat us here.

"That feeling was incredible. And obviously the last couple of weeks we have been struggling, we have been going through ups and downs, and that's obviously difficult to take.

"But it's all about the hard work, the confidence, and the way you defend with each other that matters.

"I think you saw especially [against Brighton] but also the midweek game how much commitment there is. That's obviously a good thing to see for me as a captain as well. That all helps."

Three clean sheets in the past five fixtures have helped to underpin the improvement in the Reds' form since successive home losses to Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven.

Van Dijk was also quizzed on fellow centre-back Ibrahima Konate's contributions at San Siro and against Brighton.

"Everyone at his best helps, everyone in the team. That's why it's a team sport," he replied.

"Ibou is a fantastic defender. Obviously when the team is not performing as a collective, then we as the last line could be exposed. And that happened at times as well.

"Individual mistakes cost us, including myself at times. Unfortunately, that's part of the game. It's how you deal with it, how you react to it.

"I think Ibou, as an example, has been in the last two games especially outstanding. He's working on things, like we all do. He helps me, I help him and that's how it should be. We are not perfect.

"He wants the best for the club and I'm pretty sure that will be absolutely fine."