A Man, A Plan, A Van Dijk

Liverpool could have been excused for a slow start. Last season’s let down in the biggest of stages, plus a World Cup over the summer, could have conspired to undo the progress Jurgen Klopp has made.

Instead, the boys in Red seem more determined than ever to keep going, and to prove themselves both domestically and in Europe. Six wins from six, including back-to-back wins against Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, and it’s fair to say that Liverpool is off to a flying start.

Speaking to the official website after the match, defender Virgil van Dijk spoke about the belief among Liverpool players, as well as the specific plan for last night’s match.

“We have belief – you have to have belief,” Van Dijk said. “We want to do at least as well as we did last season. That’s a very hard thing to do, but you have to believe.

“We didn’t just have a plan to control Neymar – we had a plan to control the whole team. They have many great players and we did very well. Everyone’s excited.

“We’ve made a good start but we haven’t won anything yet. We need to show it every week – every three days – and keep going. But we’re obviously very pleased.”

Although Liverpool conceded two goals (one of which was even onside!), Van Dijk and the rest of the Liverpool squad did well to limit the visiting team’s chances. The second half was especially impressive, dominating the game both in and out of possession.

Another takeaway is that Liverpool want to compete on all fronts. While some Mancunian pundits wish Liverpool would focus on one competition or another, and please not win any trophies along the way, there is a clear desire to do the exact opposite for Klopp’s men.