Vigil van Dijk gives verdict on Liverpool late win against Burnley
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesLiverpool are making a habit of leaving things late.
Four straight league wins have now come after goals in the final minutes.
Supporters know the tension of watching every chance go by while the clock runs down.
Turf Moor added another long night to that list.
Burnley sat deep and defended with a stubborn five-man back line.
Liverpool had plenty of the ball but few clear chances.
Every missed header and blocked shot added to the pressure.
Fans could feel the game slipping away and the perfect league record looked ready to end.
Virgil van Dijk has been through tight finishes before.
As captain he knows how much mental strength it takes to stay calm when time is almost up.
He also knows what it means to keep belief when frustration grows.
This win keeps Liverpool three points clear at the top and shows how the team have learned to stay patient.
For van Dijk, the night was about character as much as quality.
When it was over, van Dijk praised the spirit that kept Liverpool pushing.
He spoke after Mohamed Salah’s penalty in the fifth and final minute of added time sealed the 1-0 win.
Van Dijk highlighted the pressure moments that shaped the match.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said, “We obviously try to break teams down.
We had to be patient and be ready whenever we lost the ball that we’re ready to defend the counters.”
“We kept looking for the goal and for the opportunities.
But I think it was a well-deserved win.”
“But if I’m Burnley, it’s never nice to concede a penalty.”
“But it was a penalty and Mo slotted it perfectly.”
“Mo is a world-class player and we know he can deliver and step up in these moments as he has done so many times.”
“But today it was key to not get frustrated, keep trying and find the space in between the lines to create opportunities.”
“A well-deserved win, it could have been a draw.”
From a captain’s view, it was another lesson in staying composed.
Van Dijk knows games like this can decide a title race.
By keeping calm and trusting each other, Liverpool once again found a way.
The clean sheet and the late strike keep momentum alive and strengthen belief inside the dressing room.
Read more: Why Alexander Isak is not in Liverpool squad to face Burnley
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