Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk fired again at Michael Owen after their win over Everton on Wednesday evening.
Diogo Jota’s purpose was the distinction at Anfield because the Reds went 12 factors away from Arsenal on the high of the Premier League regardless of a nervy encounter.
Arne Slot’s aspect are virtually sure to win the highest flight, however their hopes of silverware elsewhere have disappeared in current months.
Liverpool had been knocked out of the FA Cup by Plymouth in February, whereas they endured a depressing week in March that noticed them crash out of the Champions League by the hands of PSG earlier than they misplaced the Carabao Cup last to Newcastle.
The victory in opposition to Everton got here within the Reds’ first recreation in additional than two weeks and Owen hinted that even when they do win the Premier League, there will probably be a sense of anti-climax come the tip of the season.
‘It’s been a irritating couple of weeks,’ Owen instructed Premier League Productions after the Merseyside derby.
Virgil van Dijk fired again at Michael Owen after Liverpool’s win over Everton on Wednesday
Owen had prompt that there will probably be a ‘bitter style’ this season even when the Reds win the title
Owen (left) made the remark when interviewing Van Dijk after the Merseyside derby
‘Liverpool had been poised to have an outstanding season, in the event that they win the Premier League it’ll nonetheless be improbable however with a bit of little bit of a bitter style as a result of it was constructing into one thing particular.
‘I feel it Liverpool followers onerous, and the supervisor and the gamers, to exit of competitions in fast succession.
‘The mud will settle, everybody will realise if it’s the Premier League they win on the finish of the season and solely the Premier League that’ll be an unbelievable season and they’d’ve snapped your hand off for that firstly of the season.
‘However it doesn’t cease the sensation of the previous couple of weeks and to get that successful feeling again will probably be actually vital to all people linked with the membership.’
Van Dijk then joined the printed dwell from Anfield and Owen questioned him on this view.
‘I’m simply pondering by way of the season up to now, in case you’d have mentioned firstly of the season you had been going to win the Premier League I’m certain individuals would’ve been over the moon,’ he mentioned.
‘Nonetheless, it was constructing into one thing actually particular – how onerous was it after a few massive defeats in cup competitions to get your thoughts turned again into the Premier League and to complete the season effectively?’
Van Dijk took umbrage to this remark as he retorted: ‘So that you’re suggesting the season will not be going to be particular any extra?’
However Van Dijk hit again at these claims and insisted that ‘now we have to alter the narrative’
Liverpool’s victory over Everton noticed them return to successful methods after a difficult March
Owen added: ‘It is going to be, completely, it is going to be particular, however I believed it might’ve been constructing into one thing very particular.’
Van Dijk then replied: ‘Effectively, I feel now we have to alter that narrative a bit of bit.
‘We’re preventing for the most important prize of the season, we labored so onerous for it, 20 groups are working so onerous to be on high of the Premier League.
‘We now have eight video games to go, we all know what’s at stake, now we have to go for it, now we have to struggle, now we have to take pleasure in the entire journey after which let’s see. Like I mentioned, it’s nonetheless trying very particular in my eyes.
‘I feel what you mentioned, firstly of the season, I feel nobody anticipated us to even attempt to struggle on all 4 fronts, clearly we’re on the stage now the place we’re nonetheless preventing for the most important, and that’s the fact. It’s nonetheless a chance that this season will probably be very, very particular.’
Regardless of Van Dijk hitting again at Owen, the previous Liverpool striker was left unmoved by his view.
‘I stand by what I mentioned,’ he added. In the event you had mentioned firstly of the season that Liverpool would win the Premier league, it’s a really, very high season.
‘As Virgil mentioned, not many individuals gave them an opportunity actually, particularly altering their supervisor after so lengthy with Jurgen Klopp being there.
‘Nonetheless, it was constructing into one thing extremely particular and I simply questioned after a few weeks of disappointment how onerous was it to re-focus, however clearly he gave us the reply.’
Slot’s aspect, who’ve eight league video games left, return to motion on Sunday with a visit to Fulham as they appear to take a step nearer to successful their second Premier League title – and first since 2020.
