Van Dijk: [Friday’s Win] Is Why We’re Title Challengers

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t fun. But Liverpool got the job done against Southampton.

The title challenge this season is so tense and tight and frustrating that Liverpool will likely need to win every one of their last six games to raise that trophy in May — and even then, it still might not be enough. But the Reds took a huge step forward on Friday by coming back from one goal down at St. Mary’s to end up beating Southampton 3-1.

Former Southampton man and current Liverpool legend Virgil van Dijk believes that this kind of gut-busting, nail-biting win is what proves that Liverpool are capable of winning the league this season.

“I think the first half was difficult because we made it difficult,” he told the official site after the game.

“The gaps were too big and obviously they scored the first goal and it was going to be difficult because it gave them belief. In the second half I thought we showed why we are top of the league and challenging for the Premier League.”

“The most important thing is to just keep on doing what we’ve been doing all season. We are always going to be dangerous with the players we have, with the way we play, and you saw it was always going to be difficult to defend against us for 90 minutes for them.

“There was [always] going to be some spaces, some opportunities, and you need the quality that we have as well to step up, and [it was] fantastic.”

It’s impressive the way that Liverpool can claw their way back into games. They’ve won the most points from losing positions in the league. But I wouldn’t mind a leisurely and clinical victory at some point before the season ends. My high blood pressure and weak heart would really appreciate that, boys.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com