Following a 2-2 draw against Fulham in the Premier League, Liverpool will travel to the Emirates Stadium to face league leaders Arsenal in a highly anticipated match. Virgil van Dijk stated that it is a fantastic challenge and therefore they must be prepared for an incredibly intense game.

In the 20th round of matches, Liverpool rallied from a goal down to take the lead thanks to goals from Wirtz and Gakopo, but then conceded another goal in the final moments, ultimately drawing 2-2 away to Fulham.

With just one win, Liverpool are currently fourth in the standings with 34 points, three points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea.

Arsenal, after goals from Gabriel and Rice in their earlier match, ultimately defeated Bournemouth 3-2. Arsenal currently sit atop the league table with 48 points, six points ahead of second-placed Manchester City.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said, "First, we need to recover from this game, but starting tomorrow, we will definitely study our opponents very carefully. They have a very strong squad, both on the pitch and on the bench. We know they are unbeaten at home this season, and I think they are in all competitions. So it will be a great challenge, and we must be prepared for a fierce battle."

“I’m really looking forward to this game, and I think everyone should be. It’s the only way to fight for a result there. In my opinion, there’s no reason not to look forward to it. It’s another chance, but first we need to recover, and then we can focus all our attention on that game.”

Reflecting on the match against Fulham, Van Dijk said, "Every game in the Premier League is very difficult. I think they've made it tough for many teams this season, and I didn't expect anything different. We played well in the second half, managed to come back, and were clearly more aggressive in attack in front of their penalty area, but conceding a goal in the last second was really disappointing."

“When analyzing a match, we often focus more on the negative factors and find it difficult to immediately see the positive aspects. But we obviously must see the positive side and bring those into the challenges that await us next.”

In addition, Van Dijk said, "Looking at the squad situation, Gakopo has to play as a makeshift center forward, and we have five midfielders behind him. So, this is the current situation we face. But in any case, we will continue to fight and move forward, and then turn our attention to the game against Arsenal."