Virgil van Dijk: Champions League qualification ‘not the standard’ for Liverpool

Liverpool are three points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the chase for the Champions League places. Liverpool's next game is against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk: "The reality is we are playing five more games and we have to try to get qualification for Champions League done." Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Liverpool’s chances of playing Champions League football were boosted by results at the weekend but captain Virgil van Dijk insisted that was not a standard by which the club should be measured.

A return to Europe’s elite club competition is a must not only for the players on the field but the executives off it as missing out on the income would impact their summer spending.