Virgil van Dijk's ominous Liverpool message ahead of Newcastle United trip

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk insists there's still plenty of work to do, despite an almost flawless season opener. The Reds' 4-0 Champions League triumph over Bayer Leverkusen was the icing on a cake that has seen them win 14 out of 16 in all competitions with the lone hiccup being one loss and a stalemate.

Even with history seemingly rewritten under new boss Arne Slot after Klopp's exit, Van Dijk is determined to keep ambitions high.

"We are happy, but we want to be happy at the end of the season," he said. "That is all about working each day and getting better and working on things that we have to improve because there are still so many things to improve. We all know that as players and the manager is very keen to show that too.

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"We’re still a work in progress, the manager wants us to defend in a certain way and we try to do that and solve things on the pitch as best we can.

"It doesn’t always go perfect as you’ve obviously seen in so many games but the good thing is that we make sure we are willing to defend, so when they beat the press we are back to not concede any chances or crosses or whatever. There are so many moments and things in games that we are doing well and I think so far, so good, in terms of results but we all realise as well that we can improve." So we are where we are now and still being able to improve is only a positive thing."

Liverpool are riding high at the summit of the revamped 36-team Champions League standings, joined only by Aston Villa in boasting a flawless record as they gear up for Wednesday's clash. Ex-Red and Leverkusen maestro Xabi Alonso has lauded them as one of the top dogs in European football.

Securing their spot in the last 16 is within Liverpool's grasp, with hopes of bypassing an extra play-off round by finishing among the elite eight. A titanic encounter with Real Madrid looms on the horizon at Anfield in just three weeks’ time. Liverpool head to Tyneside to take on Eddie Howe's Newcastle on Wednesday December 4, just three days after their Premier League clash with Manchester City and a week after a Champions League game with Madrid.