LiveScore Daily: Van Dijk 'fully committed' to Liverpool

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Committed captain

Virgil van Dijk says he is "fully committed" to Liverpool after recent rumours emerged linking the Dutch centre-back with a move away from Anfield as he enters the final 18 months of his contract.

Head coach Jurgen Klopp announced he will exit Anfield at the end of the season after nine years on Merseyside but the Reds skipper insists he is going nowhere.

He said: "To be 100% clear, I am fully committed to the club. I love the club, I love the fans. It is fully taken out of context.  

"It is not about me, it is not about I, it is about us, nothing has changed. Five days ago we weren't even speaking about my contract, so it's a bit silly.

"My full focus is on making sure this year is a very special year. 

"It was obviously a big announcement the last couple of days, it's been a big shock to each one of us connected to the club."

Moyes magic

David Moyes believes Kalvin Phillips can have a similar impact to that of Jesse Lingard during his loan spell at West Ham.

Lingard fired nine goals in 16 matches during a memorable Hammers stint in 2021 and although Moyes knows Phillips is a different type of player, he is hopeful that the Three Lions ace can prove equally influential in East London.

He said: "His pedigree over the years has made me feel he's a player I'd like to have at the club.

"For some time he's been a mainstay of the England national team. He's someone who has been a really good player. 

"The move to City hasn't worked as well as he would have liked. 

"This time a couple of years ago we got Jesse Lingard, he really helped us. I'm hoping Kalvin can have a similar impact as what Jesse had."

All at sea

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is backing his players to turn their poor form around after their limp 4-0 loss at Luton.

The Seagulls were stunned at Kenilworth Road and have not scored a Premier League goal since defeating Tottenham in December.

De Zerbi said: "I don't want to make any excuse because we have to play better. We have fight, we must fight. I can explain this day as a blackout. 

"We knew before the game the style of Luton, we knew everything. We didn't play. I believe in my players. 

"I said the secret of Brighton is not the coach, not the recruitment, not the former coaches. It's the quality of the people inside the dressing room. 

"Today is more difficult to say it like this. But I think they are smart, they have great values. They can analyse this day and we can learn from this game, from this defeat. This defeat is very, very, very tough."

Brilliant Blues

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has labelled his first seven months in West London as "fantastic".

The Blues sit 10th in the Premier League table but can leap into seventh if they beat fellow Carabao Cup finalists Liverpool at Anfield tonight.

And Poch understands why there have been some frustrations this term but urges fans to have patience with him and the players.

He said: "In my view? Fantastic. In the people's view? Without context of the circumstances and not being realistic, maybe OK, maybe good. 

"After seven months, all the circumstances, the injured players, if we see the big things — we are in the final against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

"I don't understand the doubt, with all the circumstances. But to be honest, with people in the street it's the opposite. I never feel the doubt."

Mancini regrets

Saudi Arabia head coach Roberto Mancini has apologised for leaving the field early during his side's penalty shootout loss to South Korea in the Asian Cup.

Cho Gue-sung scored a late equaliser in second-half stoppage time before Jurgen Klinsmann's men went on to win and set up a quarter-final clash with Australia.

Mancini said: "I apologise [for leaving early], I thought it was finished. I didn't want to disrespect anyone.

"I want to say thank you to all my players for what they did. They are improving a lot.

"We as a group, we improved a lot. We've worked for one month together [for the Asian Cup] and this is important."

Mancini was looking to win his second international title after guiding Italy to victory at Euro 2020.

Morocco stunned

Morocco boss Walid Regragui has taken full responsibility for their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations after the Atlas Lions were stunned by South Africa.

Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena secured a 2-0 win for Bafana Bafana in a match where Achraf Hakimi missed a penalty and Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat was sent off.

Regragui said: "We could have maybe settled the game in the first half but, at this level, you get immediately punished for any chance you waste.

"The penalty hurt us a lot and surely we didn't do everything that is required but I take full responsibility.

"We will learn from this unexpected stumble, this is a disappointment for our fans who supported us a lot."

Morocco were hoping to win their first AFCON title since 1976 after making history by becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022.