Van Dijk urges fans to make Anfield 'horrible'
Virgil van Dijk has urged Liverpool fans to make Anfield a "horrible" place to go for rival teams as the Reds look to secure the Premier League title.
The Reds moved 11 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table after a 2-0 win over Manchester City on Monday; it is their largest lead over second place at the end of a day since the final day of the 2019-2020 campaign (18), when they last won the title.
Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai got the goals as Liverpool claimed its first win at the Etihad Stadium since November 2015.
Liverpool also has the advantage of playing seven of its remaining 11 Premier League matches at home, and Van Dijk believes the crowd can play a huge part.
"I mentioned it after that [Wolves] game, that obviously it's pretty normal to be [nervous] like that," he said. "It is a human [reaction] that there could be some anxious feelings kicking in, and that could still be the case.
"But I think it only helps us and them [the supporters] as well to make Anfield horrible for the opponent. Most of the time, we have been doing that, and obviously, the way we play helps with that as well.
"How many home games are left? Seven out of 11. So let's make sure those seven are going to be amazing, as loud as possible. I don't think we have to speak about it because, normally, that is the case.
"So let's go, enjoy, focus on Wednesday [against Newcastle United] now, and then we'll see what happens after."
Van Dijk has played every minute of Liverpool's Premier League campaign (2,340) and is likely to continue that run against Newcastle United.
Since losing its first Premier League home game against Newcastle 2-0 in April 1994, Liverpool is unbeaten in their last 28 against the Magpies at Anfield in the competition (W23 D5).
Despite its big lead in the title race, Van Dijk, who could be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season with his deal due to expire in June, is not taking anything for granted.
"[City] was a big win," he said. "I told the guys, 'Don't take these wins for granted, but when you go home, recover and be ready for the preparation for Newcastle'.
"That's the only thing we have to do. Tunnel vision. Nothing else matters really. And we need our fans to be in great shape on Wednesday as well."
