'Tough' - Virgil van Dijk addresses daunting Liverpool fixture schedule but insists Reds plan to challenge for title 'until final day'

Ahead of facing the likes of Chelsea, RB Leipzig, Arsenal, Brighton, Bayer Leverkusen, and Aston Villa over the next month, Liverpool captain Van Dijk has spoken about this "tough" run of matches. The 33-year-old is looking forward to these challenges ahead and says his team are focusing on competing for the Premier League crown.

He said, via the Daily Mail: "We want to improve, we want to challenge, we want to compete until the final day and win and be successful. That's what we're focusing on - not what other expectations are. We've got a lot of points until now but we want to have a lot more. We know how tough the fixture list will be after the international break but why not enjoy it? I'm really looking forward to that and hopefully everyone involved with Liverpool is as well."

The Reds sit top of the table, with new manager Arne Slot overseeing six wins from seven matches. But, this run of upcoming fixtures will be a real test of his team's credentials as they try and compete on multiple fronts for the biggest trophies. It is early days, but Slot is doing a good job of carrying the Liverpool torch after Jurgen Klopp's hugely successful era.

When the upcoming international break comes to an end, Van Dijk's Liverpool return to Premier League action on October 20 at home to Chelsea, before travelling to RB Leizpig in the Champions League three days later.