Virgil van Dijk reveals what he told Joel Matip before brilliant goal in Leeds rout

The Liverpool defender was full of praise for his teammates after their 6-0 Premier League thumping of Leeds United.
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Virgil van Dijk has hailed defensive partner Joel Matip’s dribbling quality and claimed that he knew a goal was imminent.

Matip scored the second of Liverpool’s six goals at Anfield on Wednesday evening, marauding into midfield on the half hour before playing a one-two with Mohamed Salah and finishing smartly past Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

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Jurgen Klopp said after the game that it was a goal made possible because of the opponent - Leeds’ man-marking system left huge gaps in the midfield all game long - and Van Dijk predicted a goal would come soon for his partner.

“It’s a big quality of him – I wish I had that quality at times!” Van Dijk told Liverpoolfc.com of Matip’s mazy runs.

“He just can go without any fear at all and hope for the best a little bit! But he has that quality. It’s a big strength of him and obviously it’s useful because it drags other players from their position and today obviously the space was there to make that run and finish it off.

“I said to him already before the game I felt it coming because he had an assist for Diogo and I said, ‘A goal is next!’ so I’m obviously very happy for him.”

Salah breaking records but knows the results come first

Mo Salah celebrates scoring for Liverpool. Picture: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesMo Salah celebrates scoring for Liverpool. Picture: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Mo Salah celebrates scoring for Liverpool. Picture: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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Two goals from Mohamed Salah made it 27 for the season and the Egyptian seems to break endless records with his goals.

But van Dijk knows that while the likes of Salah and Sadio Mane are chasing individual records and golden-boots, the overall performance of the team and results continue to be the most important outcome.

“He is chasing records but he knows that first and foremost we want to achieve good things during this season,” van Dijk said.

“He has a big part to play in that with his goals, but also with his defending, with his work-rate and stuff.

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“Obviously two goals again, Sadio two goals again, so an incredible game for them. Something to build on and to hopefully take with us to the cup final.”

Looking forward to Sunday’s Carabao Cup final

Liverpool fans and players won’t have long to relish such a dominant Premier League display as all eyes now turn to the first trophy chance of the season in the Carabao Cup final.

The Reds will travel down to Wembley to take on Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea on Sunday in the hope of claiming the first of four trophies they are fighting for.

And Van Dijk has said he’s looking forward to a tough challenge against a tactically astute Chelsea side.

“Yeah, I am looking forward to it,” He added.

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“I am looking forward to it a lot. It’s going to be tough; Chelsea is a very, very good team, tactical-wise they have a clear plan and it’s going to be interesting [to see] how they will try to beat us.

“But we will prepare well, we will recover from tonight and give everything that we’ve got on the weekend and with our fans and stuff, it’s going to be hopefully a good day. But no doubt, it’s going to be very hard.”