Virgil van Dijk and his Liverpool team-mates will go into the international break top of the Premier League

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk after the final whistle of the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace(Image: PA Wire/PA Images) Skipper Virgil van Dijk wants Liverpool to "compete until the final day" in their bid to win the Premier League title. The Dutchman and his fellow defenders kept another clean sheet in Saturday's 1-0 win at Crystal Palace to keep the Reds top of the table heading into the international break.

Van Dijk is keen for Arne Slot's side to stay there and told Liverpool's website: "We want to improve, we want to challenge, we want to compete until the final day and win and be successful.

"That's what we're focusing on not what other expectations are. We've got a lot of points until now but we want to have a lot more.

The Reds' backline has been key to their success this year, conceding just two Premier League goals so far.

However, goalkeeper Alisson Becker suffered a hamstring injury and is expected to miss the Anfield clash with Chelsea on October 20.

Speaking about the Reds' rearguard, Van Dijk added: "Obviously we keep going, we keep working and we're never satisfied. We always can improve.

"I think today we needed Ali twice, three times maybe, and that's what we're trying to avoid. But if we have to defend, we have to defend with everything that we've got.

"Everyone is contributing to clean sheets but I'm very happy with a clean sheet as well."

Diogo Jota scored the only goal against Palace, who extended their winless run to seven matches.

The Eagles were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after a tug by Van Dijk on Marc Guehi in the box.

And manager Oliver Glasner said: "Why didn't VAR give it? They thought it wasn't a penalty. This situation isn't a discussion for me. It's not like handball or not. Guehi wants to go for the ball and is held by two hands, it influences his run, pulls him down."