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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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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs341861067541360
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8Chelsea34149116559651
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


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