Virgil van Dijk has reinforced Arne Slot’s desire for more silverware for the new season by insisting that retaining the Premier League title is “the bare minimum” for Liverpool.
The champions will get a final tune-up for their defence when Sunday’s Community Shield pits them against Crystal Palace and the club’s captain was in a bullish mood in an interview on the club’s website.
Slot has been busy strengthening a squad that won the league by 10 points and Van Dijk says that after a spree of almost £300m on new players, there will be no lack of intensity when the season begins against Bournemouth on Friday.
“You’re going into the season with goals that you want to compete for every trophy that you participate in. I think that’s the bare minimum for a club like Liverpool,” said Van Dijk. “It’s going to be very tough but we’ve been through very tough times anyway and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to every bit of it.
“We’re all in this together and that’s how it should be. Us as a group with players, staff but together with our fans, we have to go together into this and support each other and be there for each other in the good and lesser-good days.”
Van Dijk spoke of his desire to leave a lasting impression at Anfield. “Any success with Liverpool, that feeling is incredible. That’s what you play football for. You want to be leaving a legacy behind, you want to be remembered, you want to inspire the next generation in everything you do.
“We are at a club where legends will be remembered and honoured and always be welcomed back. It’s an amazing feeling and an amazing feeling that we were part of that period of time, but we still are part of the club and want to be successful.”
Van Dijk is – alongside teammates Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz – included on the 2025 Ballon d’Or shortlist. Salah, last season’s Premier League Player of the Season and FWA Footballer of the Year, said: “Being a legend at a club, especially like Liverpool, is such a great thing. It shows you that you worked very hard and achieved things that are difficult for people to achieve. I’m grateful for something like that.”
“It is nice if you can start the season with the chance of winning something,” Slot said. “Normally you have to play numerous games before you can win something.
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“If it’s the League Cup, FA Cup, let alone [the] Premier League or Champions League, normally you win something in the end of the season. Now we have a chance to win something in the beginning of the season.”
