“We are in a very good situation. Close to what we all hope to achieve. Let’s just go for it, enjoy it. Losing to Chelsea is a big blow but we were playing against a very good side. Let’s focus on “just” the Premier League, because it’s very small, huh?”

Liverpool need 12 points to guarantee the title, and after their setbacks this weekend’s visit of Bournemouth has taken on more importance as they look to regain form, especially with the Atletico tie imminent.

“We have to improve - 100 per cent - but we are not worrying,” said Van Dijk.“It’s Champions League. Anything can happen. They are a very tough team. Fantastic players. But we focus on Bournemouth first.

“We wanted to keep winning every game that was ahead of us. But we deserved to lose at the weekend. We all knew it. We all discussed it. We got over it easily, I think, because we spoke with each other and accepted we have to improve. Tuesday night was a much better performance but you lose so you’re out of the Cup. That’s the reality.

“I don’t like losing. The way we lost at the weekend was totally deserved. It was a very tough day for all of us.

“If you look at the three games before Chelsea, they are quite similar in their approach against us. Atletico are one of the best teams that play in that kind of way. And we lost with a corner. The West Ham game they were also playing defensively and we tried to find solutions. It’s the most difficult thing in football to break a team down.”

Asked if Bournemouth may be more confident heading to Anfield, Van Dijk offered a withering, sarcastic response: "Yeah, we’re very weak at the moment…

“They will prepare and watch the games that we have played. We will prepare and we want to win the game, be in their faces like we always have been, and show why we’re top of the league.

“We are quite a lot of points up. That’s well deserved for the way we fought for every game. Nobody wants to lose games. But the reality is it happens. We have to bounce back but we still have the quality. I’m not worried at all.”