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Attendance: 53,092
Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 24
Jan 30, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Leicester logo

1-1

Mane (3')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Maguire (45')

Van Dijk asks fans to stay patient as Liverpool push for title

Van Dijk asks fans to stay patient as Liverpool push for title
© Reuters
Some fans were left frustrated after the Reds were held to a draw by Leicester.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has urged patience as the pressure increases in the title run-in.

The Reds extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points over Manchester City with a 1-1 draw at home to Leicester.

Frustration grew among a large number of fans at Anfield throughout the second half and there was disappointment at the final whistle at the sense this was a missed opportunity after City's surprise defeat to Newcastle the previous night.

Van Dijk understands the sentiments, which were transmitted to the players on the pitch, but insists they are not warranted just yet with such a long way to go in the season.

"Obviously you get that feeling from the crowd and I think it's not really necessary at the moment," said the Holland captain.

"But obviously everyone wants to win so bad and that's what we want as well, but sometimes you need to be very patient.

"In the end it's all about showing on the pitch and we're not going to be affected by that.

"We want everyone to cheer us on and keep pushing even if we have tough moments, even if we're 1-0 down or maybe more.

"We just need everyone to pull in the same direction and keep going, that's the only way forward."

Part of the problem was many fans arrived expecting a simple three points, with Leicester on a three-match losing run and Liverpool trying to extend a seven-game winning league sequence at Anfield.

The draw was not for a lack of effort, with a couple of decent penalty shouts being turned down and Harry Maguire escaping with a yellow card for bringing down fellow goalscorer Sadio Mane as the Senegal international threatened to break clean through on goal.

Asked what was missing from the performance, Van Dijk added: "I don't know, a bit of luck I think, a bit of extra edge maybe that we sometimes have a little bit more than last night.

"There are a lot of circumstances that play a part. They are a good team, they play good football, great players, and for us we were just not lucky enough I think."

The mantra maintained by manager Jurgen Klopp and his players is that they are focused on themselves and do not pay attention to what City are doing.

For that reason, Van Dijk said the surprise Newcastle sprang at St James' Park barely registered with the squad when they assembled on match day.

"We were just preparing for the game: in the morning we trained and nobody talked about it. We just focused on our game and it was a very tough game," added the £75million centre-back.

"That's not something that we focus on. That they lose is obviously not good for them but it's obviously good for us for the title race.

"But there are so many games left. Anything can happen and you saw that against a good (Leicester) side."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


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