Liverpool captain, Virgil Van Dijk, retaliated on Michael Owen after their victory against Everton on Wednesday evening.
The goal of Diogo Jota was the difference in Anfield while the Reds showed 12 points arsenal at the top of the Premier League despite a nervous meeting.
Arne Slot’s team is almost sure to win the elite, but their hopes of silverware elsewhere have disappeared in recent months.
Liverpool was eliminated from FA Cup by Plymouth in February, when they endured a miserable week in March which saw them crash from the Champions League in the hands of PSG before losing the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.
The victory against Everton came in the first Reds match in more than two weeks and Owen hinted that even if they win the Premier League, there will be a feeling of anti-climax at the end of the season.
“It was frustrating for a few weeks,” Owen said at the Premier League Productions after the Merseyside derby.
Virgil van Dijk retaliated on Michael Owen after Liverpool’s victory against Everton on Wednesday
Owen had suggested that there will be a “bitter taste” this season even if the Reds win the title
Owen (left) made the comment during the interview with Van Dijk after the Merseyside derby
“Liverpool was about to have a phenomenal season, if they win the Premier League, it will always be fantastic, but with a little bitter taste because it was done in something special.
“I think it hardly struck Liverpool fans, and the manager and the players, to get out of the rapid succession competitions.
“ The dust will settle down, everyone will realize that if it is the Premier League that they win at the end of the season and only the Premier League which will be an incredible season and they would have taken the hand for this at the start of the season.
“But that does not stop the feeling of the past few weeks and obtaining this feeling of victory will be really important for everyone linked to the club.”
Van Dijk then joined the live broadcast of Anfield and Owen questioned it on this view.
“I just think in terms of season so far, if you had said at the start of the season, you were going to win the Premier League, I’m sure people would have been on the moon,” he said.
“However, it was built in something really special – how difficult it was after a few big losses in cup competitions to run the Premier League and to finish the season well?”
Van Dijk took shade to this comment when he retorted: “So you suggest that the season will no longer be special?”
But Van Dijk retaliated with these statements and insisted that “we have to change the story”
Liverpool’s victory over Everton saw them come back to win after a delicate walk
Owen added: “It will be, absolutely, it will be special, but I thought it could have been built in something very special.”
Van Dijk then replied: “Well, I think we have to change this story a little.
“We are fighting for the greatest price of the season, we have worked so hard for this, 20 teams work so hard to be at the top of the Premier League.
“We have eight games to do, we know what is at stake, we have to go, we have to fight, we have to take advantage of the whole walk and then see. As I said, it’s always very special in my eyes.
“ I think what you said, at the start of the season, I think no one expected what we even try to fight on the four fronts, obviously, we are now on stage now where we are still fighting for the biggest, and that is reality. It is always a possibility that this season is very, very special.
Although Van Dijk struck Owen, the former Liverpool striker was left insensitive to his point of view.
“I want I said,” he added. “If you said at the start of the season that Liverpool would win the Premier League, it’s a very, very big season.
“As Virgil said, few people really gave them a chance, especially by changing their manager after so long with Jurgen Klopp.
“However, he built himself in something incredibly special and I was wondering just after a few weeks of disappointment how difficult it was to reverse, but obviously he gave us the answer.”
The Slot team, which has eight league games, returns to action on Sunday with a trip to Fulham as they seek to get closer to their second first League title – and first since 2020.