Virgil van Dijk says feel-good factor returning at Liverpool as captain explains bizarre shove incident

Virgil van Dijk believes the feel-good factor is returning to Liverpool following their Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea at Anfield. The Reds advanced to the quarter-finals after winning 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, marking their fifth consecutive victory in all competitions. Cody Gakpo scored Liverpool's regular-time goal from the penalty spot to cancel out Morgan Rogers' opener.

Van Dijk also addressed an off-the-ball incident in the second half where Chelsea substitute Emmanuel Emegha shoved him to the ground without receiving punishment from referee Darren England. Van Dijk joked that the forward might be trying to get into the national team, while praising teammates Joe Gomez and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili for their heroics in the shootout.