Liverpool will approach their FA Cup clash with Accrington Stanley with “no 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 to Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Despite recent matches, Van Dijk has expressed his excitement about the start of their FA Cup campaign.
He also underlined the importance of the competition, saying in his notes for the official match programme: “The FA Cup is a competition which means a lot to both players and supporters.
“Personally, I have very good memories of it. We have won it before and we would like to go as far as possible this season as well.
“In my opinion, one of the great strengths of English football is the quality of the teams at the bottom of the league pyramid.
#EmiratesFACup memories of the third round 💭 pic.twitter.com/U2lP0cjWIk
–Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 10, 2025
“The Premier League gets the most attention, but the standard of football in the Championship and Leagues One and Two is also very good.
“You see it in the FA Cup, a tournament famous for its tales of giant slayings over the years. Many top teams have lost to supposedly lesser teams, and we need to be fully focused to ensure our name is not added to that list on Saturday.
“I can assure you all that it will. The mentality of this team is very good and it is one of the main reasons why we have started this season so well.
“We cannot, and will not, allow complacency to set in now. Accrington Stanley deserve all our respect, and that’s exactly what they’ll get.
“We’re all looking forward to the game, and I’m sure you all are too. It was incredible to see almost 6,000 of you at Tottenham, and I know you will once again give us incredible support as we take on another competition.
