Virgil van Dijk has promised that Liverpool will learn from last season's “disappointment” to ensure that they do not fall short in the hunt for trophies.
Liverpool is still in the mix for a historic four -fold because they are six points clear in the title race, they have reached the Carabao Cup final of next month, with a FA Cup -Easy game in Plymouth on Sunday qualified for the last 16 of The Champions League.
But Van Dijk warned that last season they were in a similar situation at the same stage when they won the Carabao Cup final for a record of tenth time – and yet it ended as their only piece of silverware. They fell away in the title race and ended up behind Arsenal and champion Manchester City who finished nine points free of Liverpool.
Liverpool also collapsed from the FA Cup to Manchester United in the quarter phase and was beaten by Atalanta from the Europa League as the list of fixture and injuries they caught up.
It is something that Van Dijk still chases that it insisted that the entire team should learn lessons from last season if they want to move forward and can now benefit from their position.
Holland -defender Van Dijk said: “Everyone has more experience from last year, so the end of last season was clearly a bit disappointing, so if there is disappointment, you have to make experience for the next season.
'If you don't, you won't go any further. But what I see now is that the players do the right things to overcome what happened last year.
“There are of course no guarantees, but that is the basis and, let's look, let's see what it entails. But we also have to enjoy the ride, concentrate on ourselves and not listen to others, not dragged in other conversations, just try to win what the next game is for us. “
Jurgen Klopp had already announced his intention to stop last year. It was supposed to inspire Liverpool to leave their departing manager with a series of silverware.
It didn't work that way, even if they won the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea. They started to feel the injury list by the time they won at Wembley and then the team was tested for the limit.
So, Van Dijk was rather negative when he was asked if it helps to win the first trophy of the season. “I don't know, because last year it didn't help!” said Van Dijk.
“Listen, you try to win every game, so hopefully it will be different. But you saw last year that we couldn't get the job done and the other two were much better in the end. But we have put ourselves in a good position, physically, mentally, wise wise for the games we have. But we should not be dragged along and that is what we have to do.
“We were also in all competitions around this time, so listen, it is a new regime and the manager does some things differently than Jurgen. What Jurgen did was very successful and hopefully this manager will also be successful for us.
“We have brought ourselves into a very good position. But it is February that I certainly do not think of what could be there, either after March 16 or at the end of May. We just have to concentrate on the next, the next and then we will see. '
Slot works wonders in his first season in Anfield. One of the most striking parts of his management is the way he gets the best out of his team. While Arsenal and Tottenham suffer from devastating lattern lists, Liverpool rests and turns to perfection.
When Spurs -Baas Ange Postecoglou talks about injuries about breakdown, that is what sports science do a bad service in all this. Tired players touch more injuries. The trick is to let players rest and not to push them too hard in training.
Years ago, managers used to get interrogated when players were given injuries by being in the red zone. Now it is just accepted. And that is why the end of his smart management benefits.
Van Dijk added: “You have to do the right things. You have to work for your profession, do the right things in terms of recovery, nutrition, pick up all the right things in the training and prepare for what happens to us.
“Of course we went into the final last year, we had many injuries, so hopefully we can get everyone fit and try to win a very difficult game.
“You must ensure that you are physically ready, be intense and running. It is a lot of responsibility, it is part of our lives and our jobs. “
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