Van Dijk’s Warning to Chelsea: Underestimating LFC is a Mistake
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has issued a warning to Chelsea ahead of their Carabao Cup final clash, stating that underestimating Liverpool without Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez would be a grave mistake. Van Dijk’s comments come after Liverpool’s impressive 4-1 victory over Luton in midweek, where they showcased their ability to score goals even without two of their key players.
Salah and Nunez are both facing late fitness tests ahead of the final, with Salah experiencing fatigue in his first match back after a month-long hamstring injury. Nunez was replaced at half-time in the same game as a precautionary measure. With Diogo Jota already ruled out, Liverpool’s attacking options appear limited. However, players like Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz have shown their ability to find the back of the net consistently this season.
Despite the absence of key players, Van Dijk emphasized that Chelsea should not view this as an easier task. Liverpool is determined to avenge their League Cup final defeat on penalties from two years ago. Van Dijk believes that the players coming in as replacements need to step up and prove any underestimation wrong. He stated, “If they take us lightly then that’s their problem. That fear factor, we don’t have influence on that. I think the players coming in then have to step up and show they’re wrong. I think that’s the only way to do it.”
Van Dijk, who assumed the captaincy after Jordan Henderson’s departure, is eager to lift his first trophy for Liverpool. He hopes to lead his team to victory on Sunday, but his focus remains on the game itself rather than personal accolades. “It’s important, but the most important thing is to try and win the game, and then we’ll see what happens after,” he added.
Acknowledging that Chelsea is a different prospect from the team Liverpool defeated 4-1 a month ago, Van Dijk understands the challenges they will face. However, he remains optimistic and visualizes himself leading the team out onto the pitch. He stated, “I try to lead out the boys as good as possible, on and off the pitch, be their leader and so far, so good. So I’m thinking about a big challenge ahead of us. Hopefully, we can make it an amazing afternoon on Sunday.”
In terms of the impact a victory at Wembley could have on Liverpool’s season, Van Dijk remains focused on the task at hand and doesn’t want his team to get ahead of themselves. Liverpool is still competing on three other fronts and needs to stay focused on each match as it comes. He said, “We’ll focus on trying to win the game and then we’ll see. You know we can’t think about what’s coming next, we have to think about what’s ahead of us and that’s Chelsea at this stage.”
Van Dijk acknowledges that the game against Chelsea will be difficult but believes that Liverpool has what it takes to come out on top. He urges his teammates to give their all and go for the win. “It’ll be a very difficult game, an interesting game as well. We have to be very good to do that, but let’s go for it,” he concluded.
As Liverpool prepares to face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final, the message from Van Dijk is clear: underestimating Liverpool without Salah and Nunez would be a mistake. Liverpool has proven their ability to score goals and overcome challenges this season, and they are determined to lift the trophy on Sunday. With Van Dijk leading the way, Liverpool will be looking to make it an amazing afternoon at Wembley.