Virgil van Dijk has urged Liverpool’s squad players to follow the example of “world class” goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and help the club through an injury crisis.
Kelleher was drafted into the side for Saturday’s game at Brentford with Alisson injured, and made a string of impressive saves as the Merseysiders won 4-1 to maintain their two-point advantage at the top of the table.
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The win came at a cost, though, as Liverpool – already without Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai and Thiago Alcantara – saw Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota all come off with knocks.
Skipper Van Dijk hailed Kelleher’s contribution at the Gtech Community Stadium, telling the club’s official website: “I always said that he is a world-class goalkeeper.
“It is very difficult to be a second ’keeper but there is no shame in being second goalkeeper to one of, if not the best goalkeeper in the world.
“He has to step up now and everyone needs a bit of confidence and everyone should give him the confidence that he will do the job. Everyone needs a bit of love from the outside.
“Hopefully Saturday will help him carry on and take that confidence into the next game.”
Liverpool host Luton on Wednesday night with the injuries meaning boss Jurgen Klopp will have to field a much-weakened side.
Van Dijk added: “We cannot deny that we have had so many injuries and we have lost big players so we have to adapt, but it is also a big credit to the players who have stepped up and taken their chances.
“We need everyone in this whole fight. We are still competing on all fronts and let’s keep this going until the very last moment so we can be successful.
“We cannot take our eye off the ball. We have the quality to punish opponents and we showed that against Brentford.”
“I always said that he is a world-class goalkeeper” 💬
Virgil van Dijk has underscored his confidence in Caoimhin Kelleher:
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) FEBRUARY 19, 2024
Arsenal’s win at Burnley on Saturday saw the Gunners stay within touching distance while third-placed Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea to slip four points off the pace, albeit with a game in hand.
Van Dijk added: “Calmness is the most difficult thing to have if you are under a lot of pressure or being rushed. That is the big message. You have to stay calm, however difficult.
“What is the trick of staying calm? It is to enjoy your football. You have to expect difficulties. We play in the Premier League, we play against difficult teams who want to hurt you and want to kick you off from first place. We have to be ready to suffer. We are not a perfect team but we have to keep going.
“[Last season] Arsenal were pushing until the very end, almost. Obviously we have been there [before]. It is a very, very difficult league. You are playing against teams like City or Arsenal who have so much quality so anything can happen.
“You have to win each game that is in front of you and by the looks of things, that will definitely be needed.”
