Virgil van Dijk has laid down the challenge ahead of Liverpool's FA Cup third-round clash with League One side Barnsley at Anfield tonight , as the Reds begin their journey in this season's competition. The Liverpool captain, who lifted the trophy with the club in 2021/22, stressed the importance of focus, mentality and respect for the opposition in a tournament known for its unpredictability, Softfootball reports.
Writing in his pre-match column shared via Liverpool's official X handle , Van Dijk also reflected on the positives taken from last week's hard-fought Premier League draw away at Arsenal, while addressing the concern surrounding Conor Bradley, who has since been ruled out for the remainder of the season after picking up an injury late in that game.
With Liverpool now 10 games unbeaten in all competitions, the skipper believes there is a foundation to build on, but warned against complacency, especially against motivated lower-league opposition with nothing to lose.
