Van Dijk sinks Sunderland to spice up UCL bid

Virgil van Dijk lifted Liverpool again into the race to qualify for the Champions League because the defender sealed a 1-0 win at Sunderland on Wednesday.
Reds captain Van Dijk netted within the second half to inflict Sunderland’s first house defeat within the Premier League this season.
Sixth-placed Liverpool’s second win of their final eight league video games moved them inside two factors of fifth-placed Chelsea and three behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
Attracts for United and Chelsea on Tuesday opened the door for Liverpool to revive their spluttering bid to achieve Europe’s elite membership competitors they usually seized the chance with a gritty victory on rain-lashed Wearside.
Talking within the aftermath of final weekend’s 2-1 house defeat in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted this has been the hardest season in his profession “by a mile”.
Slot has confronted mounting hypothesis about his place, lower than a yr after main Liverpool to the English title.
He conceded it will be unacceptable if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League, admitting they have to be “near perfection” to safe a berth in it.
Whereas this was removed from an ideal efficiency, Slot’s males did sufficient to maintain themselves within the hunt for the top-five end that’s prone to assure Champions League qualification.
Sunderland kicked off with the Premier League’s solely unbeaten house file this season, with leaders Arsenal and second-placed Metropolis each compelled to accept a draw on the Stadium of Gentle.
Not like Arsenal and Metropolis, Liverpool had been in a position to grind out a hard-fought success.
Florian Wirtz supplied the majority of Liverpool’s most menacing moments.
Wirtz’s deflected shot trickled narrowly broad earlier than his long-range blast compelled a high quality save from Robin Roefs.
The German playmaker went even nearer with a low drive that flashed via a sea of Sunderland legs earlier than cannoning again off the far publish.
Roefs denied Wirtz once more, spreading himself to dam a header at point-blank vary.
Sunderland appealed in useless for a penalty when Ibrahima Konate hauled down Brian Brobbey on the stroke of half-time.
The Black Cats went shut via Trai Hume, who drilled simply over from 25 yards quickly after the interval.
However Liverpool responded effectively and Mohamed Salah’s goal-bound shot was blocked by Sunderland’s Reinildo Mandava earlier than Van Dijk netted within the 61st minute.
Van Dijk met Salah’s nook with a strong header that Sunderland’s Habib Diarra nodded into the roof of the online in a failed try and clear off the road.
With Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong injured and Dominik Szoboszlai suspended, Slot was compelled to make use of Japan midfielder Wataru Endo at right-back in his first league begin this time period.
However Endo was stretchered off within the second half as Liverpool’s damage woes mounted.
Slot’s aspect coped with that blow effectively sufficient, holding Sunderland at bay to safe a helpful victory.
 
‘Unbelievable’ Salah
Arne Slot praised Mohamed Salah after the “unbelievable” Egypt star equalled Liverpool’s file for assists within the Premier League by organising Virgil van Dijk’s winner in Wednesday’s 1-0 victory at Sunderland.
Slot’s willingness to focus on Salah’s completely weighted nook that Van Dijk headed house within the 61st minute signalled the continued rehabilitation of his relationship with the ahead.
Salah claimed the membership had “thrown him underneath the bus” and made it clear he was not on good phrases with Slot after he was dropped for a number of video games amid a sustained dip in type earlier this season.
The outburst prompted hypothesis that Salah may very well be bought, however he shortly cleared the air with Slot to get again within the Dutchman’s line-up.
Salah’s newest help in his glittering Liverpool profession took him to 92 — stage with Anfield icon Steven Gerrard.
“He has so many information for this membership, however to have this one mixed with such an amazing participant. Each had been unbelievable gamers for this membership,” Slot mentioned.
“Sadly for Steven, I anticipate Mo to go above him. I do not anticipate, however I hope he goes above him.”
Liverpool’s second win of their final eight league video games ended Sunderland’s unbeaten house file within the prime flight this season.
It lifted Slot’s sixth-placed crew to inside two factors of fifth-placed Chelsea and three of fourth-placed Manchester United.
“Essential. I believe we dug deep, after solely two days of relaxation. Then going to a troublesome away sport. We confirmed once more how effectively we are able to play on the ball,” Slot mentioned.
“The character we now have proven all through the entire sport was superb and that’s the reason we go away this place with a 1-0 win.
“Second half, we had so many good moments and so many moments the place we had high quality gamers in promising positions.
“The general efficiency by way of work charge was actually good.”