Van Dijk issues fierce warning to team-mates to avoid the ‘world sinking’

VIRGIL VAN DIJK warned Liverpool must “work our a**es” off to stop the “world sinking”.

Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle ended a miserable week in which Arne Slot’s side were also dumped out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain.

Skipper Van Dijk wants the Reds to react with five straight wins that would likely see them secure the Prem title by beating Tottenham on April 27.

He said: “We have to turn this around. If you lose twice in five days it feels like the world is sinking. Two weeks before, everything was sunshine and rainbows.

“In the Champions League, we couldn’t get it done, we lost this final and we got knocked out of the FA Cup.

“We have nine games to go and I don’t think there’s any motivation needed to try to get the job done. We have to work our a**es off.

“But now everyone goes to their respective countries and will all play and hopefully stay fit.

“We then have a couple of days to settle down and be ready for Everton at home.

“If we win five games — obviously a very difficult job — we’ll be champions of England.

“If you keep these things in your mind it also can benefit you to make sure you’re working hard.

“I can guarantee you right now there will be so many difficult moments in all of those games.”

Liverpool are 12 points clear of Arsenal. The Reds need 16 points to be sure but five wins should be enough due to their better goal difference.

Yet inconsistent Arsenal are likely to drop points in their next few games, meaning Arne Slot’s team — who last won the Premier League in 2020 — could wrap up the title even sooner.

Van Dijk, whose team face rivals Everton on April 2, revealed how Slot tried to pick up his stars.

Dutchman VVD added: “He said everyone should be disappointed by not winning the cup — but that there is a title to win and, when we come back, we have a big game.”

The centre-back insisted that the Euro loss to PSG on penalties had nothing to do with Liverpool’s lacklustre Wembley display.

He said: “No, I don’t think there was any impact from that. We gave it all, I don’t think PSG had anything to do with it.”