Via echo
While many within the Liverpool squad are still in the fledgling stages of their Anfield careers, there is also a healthy contingent of seasoned campaigners
Saturday's 2-0 win at Bournemouth was something of a statement victory given the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and third-place Nottingham Forest have all been sent packing from the Vitality Stadium
The fact that Andoni Iraola's side also came into it on a club-record unbeaten stretch of 11 games
So it would be understandable if players like Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai or Ryan Gravenberch felt that a major step towards the Premier League crown had been taken
All three, alongside Wataru Endo, have only been at the club since the summer of 2023
Cody Gakpo, signed from PSV Eindhoven two years ago, is another in that same boat,
while none of Ibrahima Konate, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Kostas Tsimikas or Diogo Jota were part of the squad who won the title in 2020.
Fortunately for Arne Slot, his Liverpoolcontingent is still littered with experienced old pros when it comes to navigating such critical periods
while the Reds have lifted the championship just once in 35 years
many within the current crop know exactly what it takes to finish with the sort of point hauls that would almost certainly lead to glory this time out.
Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez were all part of the Liverpool squads that earned 97, 99 and 92 points between 2019 and 2022
while younger players like Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott were on the scene when that 30-year wait for league title No.19 ended five years ago.
there is little chance of the Reds' six-point gap - leading to inflated egos and complacency at the most inopportune of times. Van Dijk, in fact, is making it his personal mission to ensure that does not happen.
Van Dijk
“Of course we (2020 title winners) have to share our experience,"
"That is part of life in general, not only football. Cody mentioned as well that I said we have to stay calm. It is important.
"The most important thing is to put all your full focus on what is ahead of you. That is what we did. Majority of us had rested but all had focus on Bournemouth.
"We deal with every opponent with the utmost respect because they deserve it.
“They won 5-0 against Nottingham Forest last week which said a lot, we had to be ready to suffer here and show our quality.
"Hopefully at the end of the season we can say that (this was a statement win at Bournemouth).
“There’s so many games to play now, different competitions and we need everyone. Now we have a couple of days off and we focus fully on turning the tie around against Spurs at home which will be difficult.
"But I am looking forward to it. Then we will see at the end if certain games are statement wins but there is no point to put a label on any game. Anything can happen.
"Yeah, it was a big one. A big win, a difficult win. This is a team in very good form with a clear idea of playing.
“Even when they have had a lot of injuries we have seen how difficult they make it for the traditional big six and other teams.
“Today was always going to be tough and we have done well. 2-0 and a clean sheet is very nice."
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