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Virgil van Dijk acknowledges the Liverpool faithful after the 2-0 home win over Newcastle United(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Virgil van Dijk believes a more relaxed Anfield can help Liverpool over the line in their Premier League title quest after Wednesday's 2-0 win over Newcastle United extended their lead to 13 points.

Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were enough for the Reds to go further clear of Arsenal, who followed up Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham United by turning in a goalless affair with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground earlier in the evening.

Arsenal kicked off 45 minutes earlier than Liverpool on the night, meaning news of their 0-0 draw filtered through to the crowd shortly after the restart and the celebratory atmosphere was obvious as supporters sang about their belief that Arne Slot's team will now be crowned champions.

The mood was a marked contrast to the last Premier League game at Anfield, when Wolves threatened an equaliser during a nervy and tense second period earlier this month and Van Dijk thinks a more upbeat, carefree mood on the terraces will only help the players hone in on a second title in five years.

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"They can sing whatever they want," the Reds captain says.

It was a good atmosphere today like always and we have to make sure that definitely the rest of the games here will be an amazing atmosphere and we have to keep going.

“No [the Arsenal result didn't reach the team] not at all.

The message today was we had to show what we are all about because after a very good win against Man City and then drop points or have a bad performance then the performance against City doesn't stand for anything.

"I think we showed a very good reaction, a great game offensively, defensively and a clean sheet again.

I think we have also the most clean sheets in this season and that's all down to the hard work of the team and we have to keep that going and see what it brings."

The victory against their Carabao Cup final opponents means Slot's men took 11 points from 15 on offer across a punishing two-week period that saw them meet Everton, Wolves, Aston Villa and Manchester City before Wednesday night.

And with a week now until Paris Saint-Germain are visited in the Champions League, Van Dijk paid tribute to everyone at the club for how they navigated such a difficult run to leave themselves in pole position for the league title.

The skipper added: “At the end of the day a lot of it is your own responsibility because we have the tools in order to prepare for games, recover, but it is what you do with your free time.

"What do you do at home to be ready for the next game in the next couple of days.

Definitely that is credit to the players, everyone connected to Liverpool who is helping us to be our best, but I'd rather have credit at the end of the season when there is something to celebrate.

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"At the moment it is just tunnel vision and get on with it and win games and that is what we try to do.
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