Liverpool defender, Virgil van Dijk, has dismissed the title claim after a draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Despite scoring Liverpool's first equaliser and coming from behind twice to secure a draw against their title rivals, Van Dijk believes it is too early to make any predictions.
While the match ended in a stalemate for both teams, Manchester City emerged as the real winners. This outcome underscores Van Dijk’s belief that a title race is not about how you start but where you finish.
Seven months ago, Liverpool was leading in the Premier League table and seemed poised to send Jurgen Klopp off with four trophies. However, they had to settle for one. As captain Van Dijk reviewed Arne Slot’s first 13 games as manager, he cautioned that it would be January before they could be considered serious contenders for the crown.
Recent performances indicate potential success
With eleven wins under their belt and an exhilarating draw at Arsenal following a wake-up call at home against Nottingham Forest, there are indications that Slot might lead his team to victory in future matches. However, four of Liverpool’s next six Premier League games pose significant challenges as they are set against Aston Villa, Manchester City, Newcastle and Everton.
Liverpool also faces formidable opponents in their upcoming Champions League fixtures - Bayer Leverkusen (the German 'Unschlagbare' or Invincibles) and current holders Real Madrid. Additionally, Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup trip to Brighton promises more than just seaside treats; it will likely prove another tough test for Liverpool. Van Dijk remains cautious despite these promising signs and refuses to make bold claims after surviving an intense battle at Emirates Stadium where Arsenal fans believed he should have been sent off after just six minutes.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool defender, said:
“I don’t know how important that point will be - we are still in October. People spoke about that if you lose (at Arsenal), you will lose the league, and they have absolutely no clue. The season is so, so long, there are so many twists and turns that could happen and will happen, but we focus only on the games ahead.
“The team that sets a very good foundation before December, and then goes through December in the best way possible without any injuries and good results, has a good chance to be top of the league. It was a tough one for both sides against Arsenal. We got a point, a well-deserved point in the end. Now we go back and focus on Brighton because that will be a tough game on Wednesday as well.”
Liverpool looking dangerous
Despite these challenges, there is a sense that Liverpool has been flying under the radar. Slot's impressive start as manager has disrupted the narrative that following Klopp would be an impossible task. However, only time will tell if this disruption will lead to Liverpool reclaiming their crown or if they will need to recalibrate their strategies for future games.
While Virgil van Dijk dismisses any early title claims for Liverpool, it is clear that the team's performance in upcoming matches against formidable opponents will play a crucial role in determining their chances of securing the Premier League title.
