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 the space of 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 the recent matches, Van Dijk expressed his delight at the start of their FA Cup campaign.
He also stressed the importance of the competition, stating in his notes for the official match program: “The FA Cup is a competition that means a lot to both players and fans.
“I personally have great memories of it. We have won it before and we would like to go as far as we can this season as well.
“In my opinion, one of the big 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 most of the attention, but the standard of football in the Championship, and in Leagues One and Two, is also very good.
“You can see that in the FA Cup, a tournament famous for its deadly stories over the years. Many of the top teams have fallen to lesser teams, and we have to be fully focused to ensure our name is not added to that list on Saturday.
“I can assure you all that will be the case. The mentality of this team is very good, which 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're all looking forward to the game, as I'm sure you all are too. It was amazing to see nearly 6,000 of you at Tottenham, and I know you'll be providing us with fantastic support once again as we attack another competition.
