Virgil van Dijk hopes Liverpool can 'crack on' after Saturday's thumping of Bournemouth

Virgil van Dijk hopes Liverpool will "crack on" after using Monday's frustrating defeat to rivals Manchester United as fuel in the 9-0 obliteration of Bournemouth.

Jurgen Klopp’s men just fell short in their Premier League title push last season and began the new campaign in surprisingly cumbersome form.

Liverpool were held to surprise draws by Fulham and Crystal Palace, before losing to previously out-of-sorts rivals United at a rocking Old Trafford.

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

"After the game you want to get the next game coming and it was good for us that we only had to wait four days so everyone was motivated," said van Dijk.

"Lucky that we didn’t have any injuries in the week before which was a nice change. Obviously great performance.

"A bit of luck (was missing earlier in the season). I don’t know. It’s difficult to say for me.

"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.

"(Saturday) was a good start, a good win, something to build on but it is never guaranteed that we crack on from here.

"That’s what we want, that is what we work for and that is what we will try to do and it starts on Monday."

LIVERPOOL THRASH BOURNEMOUTH

Liverpool turn their attention to Wednesday as improving Newcastle arrive at Anfield, where Van Dijk is expecting a "tough game" against a side that has impressed him.

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

The 30-year-old has not been