Virgil van Dijk hopes Liverpool can build on a strong win over Bournemouth

Virgil van Dijk hopes Liverpool will “see” after using Monday’s frustrating defeat to rivals Manchester United as fuel in their 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth.

Jurgen Klopp’s men just fell short of the Premier League title last season and have started the new campaign in surprisingly sluggish form.

Liverpool were held to surprise draws by Fulham and Crystal Palace before losing to previous rivals United at a rocking Old Trafford.

The Reds felt they had a point to prove on Saturday and they did just that in an Anfield annihilation of promoted Bournemouth, securing a record 9-0 Premier League victory.

Asked if they were motivated after the United defeat, defender Van Dijk said: “Yes. After the game you want to have the next game and it was good for us that we only had to wait four days so everyone was motivated.

“Luckily I didn’t have any injuries the week before, which was a nice change. Obviously great performance.

“A bit of luck (was missing early in the season). I do not know. It’s hard for me to say.

“We all wanted to perform, we all wanted to get results, but you know I don’t like to look back, I like to look forward.

“Today was a good start, a good win, something to build on, but it’s never guaranteed to go on from here.

“That’s what we want, that’s what we’re working for and that’s what we’re going to try to do and it starts on Monday.”

Liverpool have turned their attention to Wednesday as improving Newcastle arrive at Anfield, where Van Dijk expects a “tough game” against a team that has impressed him.

Summer signing Darwin Nunez served his three-match ban for headbutting Palace’s Joachim Andersen against the Magpies, meaning Roberto Firmino will surely get another chance to shine in the top flight.

The 30-year-old wasn’t relied on as much last season but produced a stunning display on Saturday, scoring two and assisting three more.

“We know the quality he has and we never doubt him,” Van Dijk said. “That’s how you deal with everything around you from the outside world.

“For him and the whole team, don’t take anything away from people who have no influence on our performance.

“In this case, we know what we can get from him and he showed it again today.

“Obviously he wants to win, when we don’t win he’s angry and when we win he’s happy. That’s how it should be.

“He wants to perform in the best possible way because he has the quality. Today he showed again why he is a world-class player.”

Firmino and Luis Diaz both scored twice against Bournemouth, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and a Chris Mepham own goal rounding out memorable goals for two teenagers.

Harvey Elliott scored his first Premier League goal at home on an afternoon when substitute Fabio Carvalho, another 19-year-old signed from Fulham, opened his Liverpool account.

“I don’t think they will be stopped from progressing (if new midfielders come in),” Van Dijk said. “In the amount of games we play, we need a lot of midfielders.

“Midfielders are the engine of our team, they win so many balls for us. They are the engine of our team. We need a lot of midfielders.

“You see the amount of games we play, we rotate a lot in midfield, apart from Fab (Fabinho) I think. We need all of them.

“I’m very impressed, very impressed with both.

“Harvey was already showing before the injury and now he is showing the same things as before.

“I was also impressed by Fabio. I said it in pre-season, I didn’t know him before, I think he can be very good for us and as a club as well.”