Van Dijk insists Reds’ bench has made all the difference this season

Liverpool FC remain top of the Premier League table, and captain Virgil van Dijk believes a huge part of that is down to the club’s substitutions this season.

Another Premier League matchday, another win for Liverpool FC, as the Reds withstood a spirited Burnley FC resistance to win 3-1 at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

With the home side still feeling the effects of the previous weekend’s defeat to Arsenal FC at the Emirates Stadium, this was not the most fluid version of Jürgen Klopp’s side, but goals from Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez ensured that LFC remain top of the Premier League table with just 14 games remaining.

Captain Virgil van Dijk knows there are plenty of twists and turns to come in the title race, but has called on his fellow players and the club’s supporters to ‘enjoy the moment’, particularly given the improvement since last season.

“I think everyone would love to be in this situation that you are on the top and fighting for the pinnacle, which is winning the Premier League in this case,” said the Dutchman.

“We are in a situation that I think last year around this time, you would never, well maybe not never as you never know, but you wouldn’t have believed where we are today.

“Let’s just enjoy the moment and we have to perform as players, but together everyone has to play their part.”

With Trent Alexander-Arnold forced off at half-time, Curtis Jones made the switch to an unfamiliar right-back position and Harvey Elliott came on to produce a match-defining performance, setting up the home side’s second and third goals.

“Very, very impressed [with Elliott] and Curtis when he went to right-back,” enthused our No.4.

“It’s very important for these guys that when they have their moments, Harvey in this case, they grab them with both hands. We need them.

“Even if you start on the bench, you have to be ready to make an impact. This was a great example of that again. This season there has been a lot of players who have come from the bench and made a difference. That’s what we need.”

Elliott himself knows the importance of being ready, whether it’s from the start of games or coming on to freshen things up from the bench.

“I want to be starting and that’s my goal - I want to get back in the team and kind of cement my spot,” insisted the 20-year-old.

“But I’m just more than happy getting on the pitch first and foremost, whether it’s off the bench or starting, I’m just happy to put the shirt on and go out and play, especially at Anfield.

“It’s down to me to try to make a difference; that’s why I’m coming on, that’s kind of my role in the team, that’s why I’m here today.

“It’s using my ability, using my skills and trying to provide something else, whether that’s starting or coming off the bench. I just need to give it 100 per cent, I need to work as hard as I can and work for the team.

“Everyone is going to be needed this season, no matter whether you’re playing, starting the games or coming off the bench, or not playing week in, week out.

“Everyone is going to be needed. It’s a long season, we have got many games, so it’s about staying ready, staying on your toes and when you’re called upon, you need to make that impact.”

Another player, meanwhile, who enjoyed Saturday’s victory was none other than Andrew Robertson.

The Scottish left-back recently returned to action from four months out with a shoulder injury, and put in his strongest performance since completing his recovery against Vincent Kompany’s men.

“I loved it today,” Robbo told LiverpoolFC.com.

“The gaffer spoke to me yesterday and just said, ‘We don’t have many options!’ He said try to forget that I’ve been out for four months, which is easy for him to say, I suppose!

“But that was my mentality when I woke up before it, to try to forget about it and hope it clicks back into gear. I thought it did, to be fair, I thought I had rhythm, I was up and down as I normally would be, I tried to help Lucho [Diaz] on the overlap and get involved in the game.

“Happy to be back, happy to get 94, 95 minutes, delighted to be back starting, and hopefully that’s me until the end of the season.

“Four months out is a long time but the lads have done unbelievably well. Now I need to step up to their level and today was a good start.”

Finally, Liverpool FC U21s manager Barry Lewtas has voiced his pride at seeing the progress made by Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah this season.

The two defenders, 20 and 21 respectively, have burst on to the first team scene this season and Lewtas – fresh from seeing his side beat Stoke City FC 3-1 in the Premier League 2 on Sunday at the Academy – believes it shows how the work being done in the Reds’ underage ranks is paying off.

“It’s great for us as an academy because it shows the value of these games, boys who have played here and being part of what we’ve tried to do in terms of the work and the work that they have put in,” Lewtas told LiverpoolFC.com.

“It’s been an unbelievable season. These boys are playing in massive games, they aren’t just coming on to finish a game off, they are starting in games.

“I don’t think people really bat an eyelid now if Jarell or Conor are starting. That is pretty remarkable really.”