Virgil van Dijk warns Liverpool bench players: BE READY

Liverpool are currently in the middle of a difficult run that will see them play seven matches in just 21 days and Virgil van Dijk has called on his team to be ready for what’s to come.

The run started with a defeat at home to Nottingham Forest but the Reds have since picked up three points against AC Milan the San Siro.

Over the next two weeks Liverpool will play five games, including starting their Carabao Cup defence against West Ham, a visit from Bologna in the Champions League and a trip to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace.

Arne Slot has enjoyed a decent run of results to start his Liverpool tenure, with the highlight being a 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, but the Reds’ perfect record in the Premier League came to an end when they lost to Forest on 14 September.

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Van Dijk’s warns Liverpool teammates

Writing in his programme notes ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth on Saturday, Virgil van Dijk said: “I have said many times that we remain a work in progress as a team, but we have shown already this season that there is a lot of talent within the squad. Now, it is about showing that consistently.”

The Liverpool captain called on the whole squad to be ready, not just Slot’s preferred XI, saying: “That is on all of us. We have to stay fit, we have to do everything in our power to be ready for the next game, whether we start or not, and we have to feel part of winning games.”

Van Dijk is aware of how tough this run of games will be and will also have his mind on a similar run at the end of November and start of December that will see Liverpool play Real Madrid and Manchester City only days apart.

“We have a lot of games coming up, so we need all the guys to be ready. Everybody wants to play every game, of course, but we know that rotation is going to be important if we are to be successful this season, so it's about each and every player making sure they are in the best possible condition to make an impact, whether from the start or off the bench.”

Slot’s lack of rotation

Liverpool have enjoyed success in the majority of their games this season and have done so by rarely making changes to the starting XI. Even for their Champions League opener against AC Milan, Slot only made two changes to the team that had lost to Forest three days earlier.

This means that many of the players on the periphery of Liverpool’s squad haven’t played many minutes this season, with players like Darwin Nunez and Jarell Quansah having played under 90 minutes in the first five games.

Wataru Endo, who could very easily find himself in the starting XI if any more injuries hit Liverpool’s midfield, has only made a pair of one-minute cameos this season.

It is these players, who haven’t yet properly featured for Slot’s side, that Van Dijk believes will make the difference as the fixture list becomes more congested for the Reds.