‘No complacency’ – Virgil van Dijk promises Liverpool fans no mercy approach in FA Cup clash against Accrington Stanley
Liverpool will approach their FA Cup clash with Accrington Stanley “without complacency”, according to captain Virgil van Dijk.
The Reds are set to compete in their third different competition in a week, following a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the Premier League and a narrow 1-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Despite their recent run of fixtures, Van Dijk has expressed his excitement at the start of their FA Cup campaign.
He also emphasized the importance of the competition, stating in his notes for the official matchday programme: “The FA Cup is a competition that means a lot to both the players and the fans.
“Personally, I have great memories of it. We have already won it and we would like to go as far as possible this season.
“In my opinion, one of the great strengths of English football is the quality of the teams lower down the league pyramid.
#EmiratesFACup third round of memories 💭 pic.twitter.com/U2lP0cjWIk
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 10, 2025
“The Premier League takes most of the attention, but the standard of football in the Championship, and Leagues One and Two, is also very good.
“You see that in the FA Cup, a tournament known for its giant-killing stories over the years. Many top teams have come undone against supposedly weaker sides and we must be fully focused to ensure our name is not added to that list on Saturday.
“I can assure you all that it will be so. The mentality of this team is very good and that is one of the big reasons why we started this season so well.
“We cannot and will not allow complacency to creep in now. Accrington Stanley deserve our full respect and that is exactly what they will get.
“We are all looking forward to the game, and I’m sure you are too. It was amazing to see almost 6,000 of you at Tottenham and I know you will give us incredible support once again as we attack another competition.”
