Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has urged calm in the title race.

The Reds lead the Premier League table, though Van Dijk knows their rivals are hitting their straps.

He told liverpoolfc.com: "Calmness is the most difficult thing to have if you are under a lot of pressure or being rushed. That is the big message. You have to stay calm, however difficult.

“What is the trick of staying calm? It is to enjoy your football. You have to expect difficulties. We play in the Premier League, we play against difficult teams who want to hurt you and want to kick you off from first place. We have to be ready to suffer. We are not a perfect team but we have to keep going.

“[Last season] Arsenal were pushing until the very end, almost. Obviously we have been there [before]. It is a very, very difficult league. You are playing against teams like City or Arsenal who have so much quality so anything can happen.

“You have to win each game that is in front of you and by the looks of things, that will definitely be needed."