Being Liverpool captain carries great prestige as well as having scarcity value.
Virgil Van Dijk is only the third player in 20 years to have the armband, following Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson and he takes over at a critical time in the club’s history as Jurgen Klopp strives to build his second great team at Anfield.
The surprising departure of Henderson to Saudi Arabia over the summer has thrust 32-year-old Van Dijk into his new role, inheriting a squad that failed to qualify for the Champions League last season when his own personal form was also questioned.
Not that Captain Cool looked remotely pressurised as he sat down to discuss the new era which begins away at Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.
‘It’s definitely a thrill,’ is how Van Dijk describes his promotion. ‘I had a feeling when Jordan left that I could be a candidate, but it wasn’t something I would have dreamed of as a young player. Special things happen, that is the beauty of life, but I never take it for granted.
New Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk has insisted they will improve on last season’s disappointments this year
He was appointed to the role after Jordan Henderson left to link up with fellow former Reds captain Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq
‘The role brings more responsibilities on and off the pitch. I saw Hendo do it fantastically well and I’ll speak to him about the stuff that comes with being captain of Liverpool FC. I’m not too big to ask questions but will try to do it my way as well.’
As for criticism from Dutch legend Marco van Basten last season that he lacked leadership skills, Van Dijk maintains a good poker face.
‘I’ll definitely speak up when it’s needed. That’s how it is,’ he says, deadpan. ‘You shouldn’t force yourself if doing anything you’re uncomfortable with, but I’m comfortable speaking in front of the boys. The message for the season is to give everything and show a reaction from last year.’
By Liverpool’s recent standards, fifth place was below par and they only secured a Europa League place thanks to a strong finish that saw them unbeaten in 11.
This summer has signified a major reboot. Senior players Henderson, James Milner, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino have left, along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita.
World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister has arrived and Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai to bolster midfield and a record £111million bid was accepted by Brighton for Moises Caicedo, although the player is said to prefer Chelsea.
Van Dijk, who signed from Southampton in 2018 and developed into the best centre-half in the world, wants a return to the glory days when Liverpool won the Champions League and Premier League in consecutive years.
In 2022, they chased a Quadruple and won both domestic cups before falling back last season. ‘We want to be challenging for trophies again until the last day,’ he says. ‘We are going to miss the guys who left, we shared so many good things, but that’s life. Others are here now.
The defender said that being named Liverpool captain was a ‘dream’ that he would ‘not take for granted’
He takes over a side that failed to qualify for the Champions League in 2022/23 after finishing fifth
Liverpool will be a much-changed side after the departures of Naby Keita, James Milner, Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
‘Last season was disappointing and the feeling is we have to make it right. It hurt over the summer reflecting on our season, because we’re not used to it.
‘We played at such a high level for many years then all of a sudden, very disappointing. We have to use it as motivation this time.’
Van Dijk could have a completely different midfield ahead of him this season including Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose step up from right-back gives the Dutchman even more responsibility to keep things tight.
Liverpool’s pre-season has been noteworthy for goals, 16 scored and 11 conceded in five games played.
‘I’m very excited by what I have seen from the players coming in,’ says Van Dijk. ‘They are high quality and can definitely help the club move forward.’
A player like Caicedo, who is also coveted by Chelsea, would help tighten things up. ‘We all want quality signings,’ he adds. ‘I trust the club. They’ve done good business over the last years, so why not now as well?’
He breaks into a smile when asked to comment on the amount of players Liverpool have been linked with. ‘You get dizzy with all the names mentioned,’ he says. ‘Everyone on social media seems to be a sporting director.’
They will be bolstered by the arrivals of new talent such as Alexis Mac Allister
Van Dijk said his team ‘have to enjoy the ride’ and added that he is ‘looking forward’ to the new season as ‘part of this beautiful club’
Few clubs take the captain’s job more seriously than Liverpool. Icons Emlyn Hughes, Phil Thompson, Graeme Souness, Gerrard and Henderson have lifted the European Cup. Before them was Ron Yeats, described as a ‘colossus’ by Bill Shankly in 1961.
Van Dijk is the modern equivalent, a one-time Ballon d’Or contender, though Klopp has a more light-hearted description of his influential No 4: ‘the best-looking captain in the Premier League’.
Already captain of his country, Van Dijk would get in many people’s all-time Premier League XIs. To lift a trophy at Anfield would take it to the next level.
‘We have to enjoy the ride,’ he says. ‘I feel like I have this responsibility but it also counts for other players, for the guys who were around me and the leadership group. It is going to be a very long season again with so many games and the Europa League this year. I’m definitely looking forward to it. I am part of this beautiful club.’
