Virgil van Dijk has recently spoken on the threat West Ham United will pose as the Reds welcome them to Anfield this sunday.

Liverpool know they cannot afford another slip-up.

The title race is tight, and every game from this point counts.

The defeat to Fulham last weekend was a wake-up call.

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With West Ham United visiting Anfield on Sunday, the response needs to be sharp, focused, and ruthless.

Virgil van Dijk has been around long enough to understand what moments like this require.

He’s seen pressure.

He’s led through it.

But even for experienced players, the message needs to be clear – there are no easy games left.

Every team has something to fight for, and any drop in standard will get punished.

That’s what happened at Craven Cottage.

And the captain is making sure everyone at Liverpool remembers that lesson.

What did Virgil van Dijk say about West Ham United?

Ahead of Sunday’s match, Van Dijk didn’t mince words.

He addressed both the importance of the fixture and the quality of the opposition.

“We know the threat West Ham will pose,” he said in the matchday programme notes.

“They probably aren’t where they would like to be in the Premier League table, but there’s no doubt about the talent that they have at their disposal.”

He then gave a reminder that Liverpool cannot afford to repeat last weekend’s mistakes.

“Like Fulham, they have players that can hurt you, if you are not at the right level,” Van Dijk added.

He stressed the need for focus across the full 90 minutes, “It is on all of us, then, to make sure that we are at the right level from first whistle to last.”

He also had a message for the fans.

“I hope, also, that we are able to call upon a big atmosphere inside the stadium once more,” he said.

“We hear you and we feel you, so be loud, be noisy and let’s make life as hard as we possibly can for our opponents.”

With the pressure building and the margins tightening, Van Dijk’s words underline what’s needed – urgency, intensity, and unity.

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