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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

The Liverpool danger Virgil van Dijk is happy to embrace in Man City title battle

Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool's continued firepower is the reason behind their remarkable powers of recovery this season.

The Reds came from behind to move back to the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 victory at Southampton on Friday night.

Liverpool have now won 16 points from losing positions this season, the most of any team in the top flight.

Mohamed Salah's disappearing act, Divock Origi frustration and other Liverpool moments missed vs Southampton

Key to that has been a strikeforce that has only failed to net in three of 33 Premier League games this season and stands only nine behind their 84-goal tally from last season.

And Van Dijk said: “The most important thing is to just keep on doing what we’ve been doing all season.

“We are always going to be dangerous with the players we have, with the way we play, and you saw it was always going to be difficult to defend against us for 90 minutes for them.

“There was (always) going to be some spaces, some opportunities, and you need the quality that we have as well to step up, and (it was) fantastic.

"(We just have to) keep going. We showed, especially after 75 minutes, we are capable to do it. We have shown that in many games before but you could see it clearly.”

Naby Keita equalised with his first goal for the club, before Mohamed Salah ended an eight-game drought with his 21st of the season and skipper Jordan Henderson sealed the win with his first strike in more than 18 months.

Jordan Henderson celebrates after scoring Liverpool's third goal at Southampton (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

“I’m very pleased for all three of them as Hendo doesn’t score too many goals but it was a big goal,” said Van Dijk.

“It was a great assist from Bobby (Firmino) for the goal and obviously Mo’s goal was very important. It was a first goal for Naby, who is working very hard every day in training so to get the start and score a goal was fantastic for him.”

Van Dijk, speaking to liverpoolfc.com, added: "I think the first half was difficult because we made it difficult.

Follow all the reaction to Liverpool's dramatic win at Southampton here

“The gaps were too big and obviously they scored the first goal and it was going to be difficult because it gave them belief. 

“In the second half I thought we showed why we are top of the league and challenging for the Premier League.”

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