Virgil van Dijk reflects on Liverpool’s ‘amazing’ win over Burnley | OneFootball

Van Dijk Reflects on Burnley Triumph and Liverpool’s Mental Edge

Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk spoke with quiet satisfaction after his side secured yet another late victory in the Premier League, this time away to Burnley. A stoppage-time penalty from Mohamed Salah ensured Arne Slot’s team maintained their perfect record in the league, winning 1-0 at Turf Moor.

For Van Dijk, the result underlined two key themes: resilience at the highest level and the value of persistence against stubborn opposition.

Resilience on display in Burnley win

Burnley, as expected under Vincent Kompany, defended deep and worked tirelessly to deny Liverpool clear opportunities. It took until the 95th minute for the breakthrough, when Salah converted from the spot to settle a tense contest.

“Fair play to Burnley, they defended really well and kept running,” Van Dijk explained post-match. “We kept pushing, didn’t lose belief and in the end got the reward.”

Photo: IMAGO

The late goals have become something of a pattern for Slot’s Liverpool, with each of their opening four league wins secured by strikes in the final 10 minutes or later. While not an ideal scenario, Van Dijk insists it reflects a mentality required to compete at the very top.

“It’s about repeating the right patterns and staying patient,” he added. “Nobody wants to rely on the last minutes every time, but the key is to keep going, not get frustrated, and believe in the process.”

Leadership and new arrivals

Van Dijk also addressed the integration of Alexander Isak, who recently joined the club to strengthen their attacking options. The Swedish striker has shown promising signs in training, with the Dutch defender confident about his impact.

“He’s a fantastic player,” said Van Dijk. “This is a step up, so more will be asked from him on and off the pitch. But I’m not worried at all—he will be important with goals and link-up play, just as Hugo Ekitike has been. We need competition, and that only pushes us forward.”

For Liverpool, squad depth and fresh energy will be crucial across a long Premier League campaign, as well as the added demands of the Champions League.

Double victory for club and academy

Away from Turf Moor, there was another reason for Van Dijk to celebrate. Liverpool’s U13s triumphed in the Virgil’s Legacy Trophy, a youth tournament he helped establish in his native Netherlands.

The Reds’ youngsters lifted the trophy in Tilburg, giving Van Dijk a personal sense of pride.

“I ran in after the game and found out the boys had won,” he said with a smile. “It was almost a sell-out crowd, and the kids had a fantastic experience. It’s something very close to my heart, and I was buzzing to see it go so well.”

Mentality shaping early title race

Liverpool’s ability to grind out results, even when games seem destined for stalemate, could prove defining in the Premier League’s early title race. For Van Dijk, it is not only about defensive organisation or attacking flair, but the collective mindset of a group refusing to settle for less than victory.

As the captain summed it up: “We kept believing, we kept pushing—and in the end, that makes the difference.”

With momentum firmly in their favour, Liverpool’s next challenge will be maintaining that edge as the fixtures pile up. For now, Turf Moor stands as another reminder of their capacity to deliver when it matters most.