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Soccer

Virgil van Dijk reveals Liverpool's motivation amid multiple competitions

Virgil van Dijk reveals Liverpool's motivation amid multiple competitionsGetty Images

Liverpool's FA Cup run continues after the club eased to a 5-2 victory against Norwich City on Sunday, advancing the Reds to the fifth round of the competition.

It was a fairly routine match on the pitch, with Premier League-leading Liverpool flexing their superior quality against EFL Championship side Norwich.

But it wasn't routine off the pitch, as Sunday's match was the first for the club since manager Jurgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving Anfield following the end of the season.

Klopp has led Liverpool to a resurgence under his tutelage, and the Reds are currently active in four different competitions (Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup). With the manager's imminent departure, it wouldn't be surprising if the players added that to the list of motivations they have powering a run at a potential quad.

For Virgil van Dijk however, the current match is always the immediate focus.

"The big task is to get through to the next round," the Liverpool defender told BBC Match of the Day. "It was a pleasing day because of the players coming back from injury and the young players getting another game. We're ready to go again for Chelsea [on Wednesday]."

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At a more macro level, Van Dijk, who scored his club's fourth goal in Sunday's game, definitely wants Klopp to go out on a high note when the season ends. But the 32-year-old notes that the team aren't just focusing on making Klopp's final season in charge a successful one.

"I can only speak for myself in this case," he said. "We have been through so much together and I am grateful for everything he has done for me, my family and my career. Why not end it on a high and make more memories? Let's see.

"We still have more goals. We don't just want to win for the boss. We want to win for ourselves, the club and because we are winners. We need a bouncing Anfield on Wednesday and a perfect performance against a good Chelsea."

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