Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has called on his teammates — and the fans — to rise to the occasion as the Reds prepare to face Real Madrid in a high-stakes Champions League showdown at Anfield.
The Dutch defender urged unity, belief, and passion, reminding supporters that “these are the nights you live for as a player.”
After a much-needed 2-0 win against Aston Villa at the weekend, Van Dijk believes Liverpool have taken a “step in the right direction.”
But he insists that the Reds need to follow it up with another big performance under the European lights. Real Madrid, he knows, won’t make it easy.
“Games don’t come much bigger than Real Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League,” said Van Dijk. “We’re really looking forward to the challenge. These are the nights you live for as a player.”
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Virgil van Dijk: “We need noise, we need passion”
Van Dijk’s message wasn’t just for his teammates. He called on Liverpool fans to make Anfield roar again — just as they did in last season’s 2-0 victory over Madrid.
“That was one of our best performances of the season,” he recalled. “The atmosphere that night was unbelievable, and we’ll need more of the same this evening. We need noise, we need passion, and we need your support from the first whistle to the last.”
It’s been a bumpy few weeks for the Reds, with inconsistency sparking criticism from the outside. But Van Dijk praised the supporters for sticking with the team, saying their energy against Aston Villa made a real difference.
The captain also took a moment to recognize Mohamed Salah’s latest milestone — his 250th goal for the club.
“What an achievement, and what a player,” Van Dijk said. “He’s an example to everyone. Hopefully, he’s on the scoresheet again this evening.”
With Real Madrid back in town — and former Red Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to feature for the visitors — emotions will run high. But for Van Dijk, it’s simple: focus, fight, and feed off the Anfield crowd.
As he put it best — it’s time to “go to work.”
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