Virgil van Dijk explains Liverpool 'aim' and shares delight before Premier League first

Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool just about got over the line against Tottenham in the Premier League, moving Arne Slot's team into fifth place and the Champions League spots

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was pleased to get another win on the board against nine-man Tottenham on Saturday, but he says the Reds have to improve again if the upturn in results is to be sustainable.

Goals from Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike gave Liverpool a commanding lead after Xavi Simons had been sent off. A second yellow for Cristian Romero should have made things easier for Arne Slot's men, but Richarlison halved the deficit and that seemed to cause panic.

In the end, Liverpool managed to escape without losing its lead. With a two-man advantage, it would have been quite the collapse had Tottenham found a way back.

"The immediate reaction coming off was that it was a chaotic last five to 10 minutes," Van Dijk told reporters. "It wasn't great but to get the three points is massive.

"There was nothing wrong up to us conceding a goal. We need to analyze the last part but personally I'm very pleased and it's on to the next one.

"When you concede a goal and their fans get behind them like they did, it's never easy to make the right decisions and find the right solutions. That's something we can improve but I don't think it's worrying. It's a transition and we need to keep getting better."

While things have not been 100 per cent smooth, Liverpool has won back-to-back games in the league, overcoming Brighton and Tottenham.

Xavi Simons was sent off for Tottenham against Liverpool.(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

"Winning more, getting results, is always positive. Losing games, especially at a club like Liverpool, is always bad," Van Dijk said. "For us, it's about staying calm. Taking each game as it comes.

"Today we won. Now we have a couple of days off. We will recover and then we will focus on Wolves. It will be a tough game. I saw their game against Spurs. Wolves will make it difficult for us and we have to be ready for that.

"First we have Christmas. Being with your family and being healthy are the most important things in life. We actually have Christmas Day off which is very nice of the staff. I'll make the most of spending the day with my wife and kids.

"It's special to be off on Christmas Day. I don't think it's happened in my Premier League career so far. I'll make the most of being with my family and enjoy it all."

Now sitting in fifth place in the Premier League standings, level on points with Chelsea in fourth, Liverpool has Wolves and Leeds at Anfield over the festive period.

In theory, at least, those are winnable games that should further cement the feeling that the Reds are heading in the right direction again — but Van Dijk isn't getting carried away.

"The aim is to try to win every game ahead of us," he said. "Unfortunately this season has had a lot of difficult moments in terms of results and performances as well.

"But all we can try to do is get better. We're at a club where we have a lot of opportunities to show what we can do. Focus on Christmas and being with the family, and then focus on Wolves."