Van Dijk focused on West Ham as ´not perfect´ Liverpool seek fourth straight win

Virgil van Dijk accepts Liverpool “are not perfect” right now as the Reds look to keep their momentum going this weekend against West Ham.

Liverpool defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0 last week in the final seconds to make it three wins in a row in all competitions.

Arne Slot’s side have won five of their past six, meanwhile, and are also three points behind Manchester United in fourth place in the Premier League.

While once again far from their best against Forest last time out, Van Dijk was pleased to have done enough to get the job done.

“We want to play our best football, and I think at times in the games we are definitely doing that,” Van Dijk told the club’s website.

“But obviously, we are still looking for improvement, and we are not perfect. We are human beings, and we want to do our best for the club.

“We want to be performing on the absolute highest level, and we need each other at their best, and it’s a process.

“But we keep going and focus on the next one. It will be another difficult one at the weekend again [versus West Ham United], so onto the next.”

Today’s winning team in training https://t.co/QQGsjbd7lq pic.twitter.com/viJLX9wZXG

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 26, 2026

Liverpool host a West Ham side on the up, albeit still sat inside the relegation zone with 11 matches to go.

The Hammers are now just two points adrift of 17th-place Nottingham Forest after losing just one of their past six league matches.

However, after an underwhelming stalemate at home to Bournemouth last weekend, Nuno Espirito Santo is aware of the need to turn performances into points.

“Unfortunately, some results are not coming, which we need,” Nuno told reporters on Thursday.

“But in terms of performance, they are improving in different aspects and getting a clean sheet always motivates us.

“We cannot spend too much time and sorrow thinking what could be. We have to react and bounce back.

“It’s a big challenge, and it can bring the best out of us. That’s the main motivation. We have to keep chasing, and it’s going to be a fight.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Florian Wirtz

It is perhaps no coincidence that Liverpool lacked creativity in last week’s narrow win over Forest in the absence of Florian Wirtz.

The Germany international looks set to return from a minor back injury and will be looking to add to his tally of six goals and three assists in his past 14 games in all competitions.

West Ham – Axel Disasi

West Ham’s improved form has been built upon a far more stable defence, coinciding with Axel Disasi’s arrival on loan from Chelsea.

The France international has helped the Hammers to three clean sheets in four matches since joining, with others around him also stepping up.

Shooting drills

Go Inside Rush Green ahead of Liverpool (A)

— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 26, 2026

MATCH PREDICTION – LIVERPOOL WIN

West Ham have won 11 points from their past six Premier League games, which is as many as they collected in their previous 18.

That highlights the improvement in recent weeks, but the Hammers have won just one of their past 19 league games against Liverpool.

West Ham’s record at Anfield is even worse, meanwhile, as they have won just one of their past 52 away league games there – that solitary win coming in August 2015.

Liverpool have won back-to-back league matches, each by the same 1-0 scoreline, and could win three in a row without conceding for the first time since Slot’s first three games in charge last season.

The Reds’ 3-0 loss to Forest at Anfield in November should serve as a caution, although not since 1992-93 have they lost two Premier League home games against sides starting the day in the relegation zone.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Liverpool – 71.3%

Draw – 16.4%

West Ham – 12.3%