Virgil van Dijk's comments on title dream will give every Liverpool ...
Virgil van Dijk wants to make the city of Liverpool to "explode" by winning the title for the Reds this season.
With nine games left to play in the Premier League in 2023/24, Liverpool's destiny is in their hands.
Were the Reds to win all nine of the remaining fixtures, they would be crowned champions for the second (and final) time under Jurgen Klopp.
Van Dijk was, of course, a major part of Liverpool's last title-winning campaign in 2019/20 and now has the chance to repeat the achievement as club captain.
Success this year would be all the sweeter for the chance to celebrate properly in front of fans, with the Reds' last Premier League trophy lift kept behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Van Dijk outlined how that unfinished business regarding the celebrations is driving him on four years later.
“We experienced it once without the fans. It makes me want to achieve it even more because I want the fans to be there with us,” Van Dijk said.
Carabao Cup Final Chelsea v Liverpool Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool with the Carabao Cup during the Carabao Cup Final match Chelsea vs Liverpool at Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom, 25th February 2024 Photo by Gareth Evans/News Images London Wembley Stadium Greater London United Kingdom Copyright: xGarethxEvans/NewsxImagesx
“I want the city to explode when we get the trophy in our hands. That’s what we fight for. That’s what we fight for since day one when pre-season started.
“That’s why all our sacrifices will hopefully be rewarded. The other two teams are also doing it.
“That’s the beauty of football. We have to fight as hard as we can to play and win games and hopefully be on the good side in the end.”
Emotional goodbyeVan Dijk also discussed his imminently departing manager, who brought him to Anfield back at the start of 2018.
The Dutchman insisted the possibility of ending Klopp's reign on a high is another key motivating factor in the run-in, while admitting the end of season farewell will be 'emotional'.
“The manager means a lot to me. Making sure I joined Liverpool is something I will never take for granted. I will always be grateful,” he said.
“What we achieved at the club, he made my dream come true. It’s special and I will always cherish that. We are definitely going to miss him but we still have a job to do.
“It’s not only that we are going to try and do this only for him. We are going to try and do it for ourselves, do it for the fans, do it for every Liverpool fan around the world.
“Definitely at the end of the season it’s going to be emotional but let’s make it good emotional, that we have something to celebrate. We will see. But that he will be missed is for sure.”
