“Liverpool is a family, and we will show that tonight” – Virgil Van Dijk Sends Emotional Message Ahead of Liverpool vs Bournemouth | OneFootball

Liverpool Captain Virgil van Dijk Outlines Demands for Premier League Title Defence

Liverpool open their Premier League campaign tonight at Anfield, welcoming AFC Bournemouth under the lights as Arne Slot’s side begin their quest to retain the crown they won in his first season in charge. For captain Virgil van Dijk, the excitement is palpable, but so too is the awareness that success will require more than just talent.

Excitement and Focus Ahead of Kick-Off

Van Dijk, writing in his matchday programme notes, made clear that while anticipation is high, the real work starts now.

“The start of a new season is always exciting, and this year is no different as we begin our journey to try to retain our Premier League title,” he said. “There’s nothing quite like Anfield under the lights, and we are all really looking forward to getting back out there.”

The Dutch defender emphasised the importance of the Anfield crowd, calling their noise and colour “extremely important” across the season. Last weekend’s FA Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace was a setback, but Van Dijk believes Liverpool are “in good shape heading into the new campaign”.

Photo: IMAGO

Improvements Needed for Sustained Success

Van Dijk acknowledged that pre-season performances showed room for defensive improvement, and stressed that humility and hard work are non-negotiable.

“For sure, we know there are things that we have to improve if we want to stay at the top. As a team, we can defend better than we have been during the pre-season games. We are humble enough to admit that, and we will all be working extremely hard every day to tighten things up and get better collectively.”

He also underlined mentality as a decisive factor, noting the need for commitment from all squad members, whether starting or coming off the bench. New arrivals, he said, have shown “quality” alongside the “work ethic” and “desire to improve” that Liverpool demand.

Premier League Challenge and Bournemouth Threat

Van Dijk warned that Bournemouth, managed by a capable coach with talented players, will present a “tough test”. More broadly, he pointed to the league’s relentless difficulty, describing it as “the toughest and most competitive league in the world”. Consistency, he said, remains the key, with a simple formula: “Train well, recover well, prepare well, hopefully play well. Those are the requirements.”

Emotional Night at Anfield

Tonight will also carry deep emotion as Liverpool pay tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, both of whom tragically passed away in July.

“Tonight, of course, will be the first Premier League game we have played since we lost Diogo and Andre,” Van Dijk said. “It will be a very emotional occasion for everybody associated with the club… Liverpool is a family, and tonight we will show that once more.”

With sentiment running high and expectations set, Liverpool’s journey to defend their Premier League title begins with the same mantra that carried them to glory last season: together, go for everything.