Liverpool will not use Spurs’ contentious winner as motivation – Virgil van Dijk
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Virgil van Dijk insisted Liverpool would not use Lucas Bergvall’s contentious late winner for Tottenham as motivation ahead of next month’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. Liverpool tasted defeat under Arne Slot for the first time since September on Wednesday after Bergvall fired home in the 86th minute to give Spurs a 1-0 victory, moments after he avoided a second yellow card for a late tackle on Kostas Tsimikas.
Captain Van Dijk made his irritation clear to referee Stuart Attwell after Bergvall’s challenge and at full-time, but played down suggestions the Premier League leaders would use that as fuel before Tottenham travel to Anfield on February 6 for the second leg.
“The frustration was purely on the pitch. After the game you can’t do anything about it any more and unfortunately for us, it ended up with him scoring the winner,” Van Dijk reflected. “It doesn’t work like that. We don’t need that motivation. We know we will be 1-0 down when the game is played at Anfield so we have to fight.
“We have to do it all together, with our fans and the players. Obviously, hopefully everyone is fit and let’s see if we can do it. “It will be tough because they are a very good team in my opinion, with a very good manager but we’re going to go for it.
“We’re in a semi-final, we know how much they would like to win it but I know for a fact we would love to win it again and maybe even more.”. Liverpool had put six past Tottenham last month, but struggled to create clear-cut chances in north London before substitute Darwin Nunez had two efforts saved in the second half by home debutant Antonin Kinsky.
