We’re on the cusp of achieving greatness and bringing major silverware back to Anfield – Virgil van Dijk seems to think so too.
Speaking on The Premier League Show, the Dutch colossus claimed that Liverpool are ready to win the league having transformed themselves into title contenders.
“I have a feeling it will [go to the wire], we’re going to give everything we have. They will probably too, and then we’ll see if that’s enough,” van Dijk declared.
“My dream is to win trophies with Liverpool because Liverpool deserve trophies. We’re close, still in the race, and we will fight until the end.”
With a single point separating us and Manchester City, with nine games to go, it’s all still to play for in the Premier League. Not content with that, we’re also gunning for European glory in the Champions League.
“I am enjoying it, I feel good.” 💪@VirgilvDijk on winning @StanChart‘s Player of the Month, his recent form, and the title race…
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) 7 March 2019
When grilled on the prospect of winning both prizes, van Dijk said: “I can’t choose but I think Premier League would be something special. Especially this year because the race is so tight. It says a lot about our quality if we could do it.
“That’s the unlucky bit for us that they’ve [City] been fantastic throughout the whole season. But we have also been fantastic. I think that’s something great for people who love football to see.
“I want to achieve everything that’s possible in football. I want to get everything out of myself and not have any regrets when I retire.”
The man we all have to thank for this is of course Jürgen Klopp. Over the past three years, he’s turned us into genuine challengers: both domestically and on the European stage.
Van Dijk said of the charismatic German: “He’s hard to me, but he also gives me confidence when I need it,” added the Netherlands international.
“We have plenty of meetings throughout the season where he’s definitely not happy with some things and I think that’s a good sign, because even when we only lost one game the whole season there are still moments where we do much better.”
With the big money arrivals of Alisson, Fabinho, Naby Keïta, and – of course – van Dijk himself, the hope is that this sizeable investment will be enough to exorcise the demons of cup final failure.
Defeats in the Carabao Cup, Europa Cup, and last season’s Champions League final will need to be put away now that we have a squad capable of challenging on all fronts for club football’s top prizes.