Virgil van Dijk predicts when Liverpool will win Premier League title | OneFootball

Virgil van Dijk reckons that Liverpool will have to win one more game to lift the Premier League title, but is planning a team celebration if Arsenal lose to Crystal Palace on Wednesday night to confirm an early coronation.

The division's runaway leaders moved to within three points of top-flight glory by eking out a 1-0 victory away to Leicester City on Sunday afternoon. Liverpool could have been hailed as champions had Arsenal failed to beat Ipswich Town earlier in the day, but a 4-0 stroll against their relegation-bound hosts preserved the illusion of the title race for at least another game.

In the event that Arsenal do suffer defeat at home to Crystal Palace in midweek, Liverpool will be mathematically uncatchable. A draw would ensure that the Gunners can match the Reds' tally of 79 points, thereby delaying the celebrations if only by the finest of margins.

Van Dijk is preparing for every eventuality. "I expect Arsenal to win at home but, yeah, if it doesn't happen then I think it would be nice to be together," the Liverpool skipper revealed after Sunday's triumph at the King Power Stadium.

Virgil van Dijk has his eyes on Liverpool's second top-flight title in 25 years / PAUL ELLIS/GettyImages

"So however that may look, we will discuss in the next couple of days. But if Arsenal just win that game, as they probably expect they will do against a very good Crystal Palace, then we have to do our job at the weekend."

Liverpool can take matters into their own hands with a single victory when they host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds have recent experience of being handed the Premier League title by the failings of their rivals. Under the COVID restrictions of summer 2020, Liverpool's squad gathered at Formby Hall Hotel to watch Manchester City lose 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Jurgen Klopp was reduced to tears before embarking upon the sleepless celebrations, infamously ringing up former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson at 3am to confirm Liverpool's triumph. This year's title will take the club's tally to 20 top-flight titles - matching United's historic record. Perhaps Arne Slot will be inclined to remind Ferguson of this fact.