Programme notesVirgil van Dijk: We have to use frustration to our advantage

The Reds welcome West Ham United to L4 tonight for a Carabao Cup quarter-final, before Arsenal visit Merseyside on Saturday for a top-of-the-table Premier League clash.

Despite tallying 34 attempts on goal in their last outing, Jürgen Klopp’s side were ultimately left disappointed by the 0-0 stalemate with United.

Nevertheless, Van Dijk wants Liverpool to use that to their advantage, starting against the Hammers.

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He writes in his column for the official matchday programme: “It says a lot about the standards that we have set for ourselves – not just in this season, but in most of the ones before – that we can draw a game against Manchester United, maintaining our unbeaten home run in the process, and the main feeling is disappointment.

“This is not something I would ever want to change, though. Keeping high standards and always looking to be better is part and parcel of playing for a club like Liverpool. If we deliver once, we have to deliver twice. Win one game and the first question is what do we have to do to win the next? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Yes, this brings pressure, but pressure is something that we can and do thrive upon. Some of our best moments this season have come when the pressure has been at its highest. So with the games coming thick and fast and every opponent bringing a fresh challenge, we have to do everything we can to make the most of every single fixture.

“Again, this is what being a Liverpool player is all about.

“We were frustrated at the weekend, but now we get to take that frustration into tonight’s game and look to be better in the areas where we need to improve. If we can do that there are no guarantees that we will make it through to the semi-finals because West Ham are a strong team, but it will definitely help our chances.

“Being in the quarter-final itself is a good measure of the progress we have made because we have had two really difficult games: at home to Leicester City, who are top of the Championship, and away to Bournemouth, who are improving all the time and picking up some really good results.

“The manager made changes for both of those ties, but the performances have still been good and we will continue to need this to happen, especially during the current period with Arsenal and Burnley to follow in quick succession after tonight’s game.

“There is no magic formula and no guaranteed route to success in any of these fixtures, but we know that by sticking together, doing everything we can as individuals and as a group and taking each game as it comes – while respecting the opposition – we can’t do anything but help our chances.

“I know these sentiments are not new, but they have stood the test of time for a reason.”

• Get your copy of the matchday programme at Anfield tonight or at our online store here