Van Dijk knows what Liverpool have to do to “make it right” after multiple blows

Liverpool finished last season outside the Champions League places, and new club captain Virgil van Dijk is confident the club can rebound after a tough few months

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Virgil van Dijk claims Liverpool will be driven on by the “hurt” they suffered last season.

Van Dijk is blunt in his assessment of last season and finishing fifth, outside the Champions League places for the first time since 2016, without a trophy was nowhere near good enough for him. He is used to winning major trophies and playing in Champions League finals with Liverpool and admits reflecting on the previous campaign was painful.

The new Liverpool skipper insists the players are using that “hurt” as fuel for this season and says he can see a fresh determination among them to succeed. “The feeling is that we have to make it right,” he said. “Obviously last year was very disappointing.

“You know, it hurts. It hurts over the summer. Obviously you reflect on the year that you’ve had as a team and it hurts, especially because you’re not used to it.

“You know you’ve been playing at such a high, consistent level for so many years and then all of a sudden last year was, apart from the run in, very disappointing. But that’s life and hopefully it won’t happen this year.

“Of course that should be motivation. Like I said, the run-in was quite good, not only the feeling of being unbeaten, but the way we played, the way we developed, it was bitter-sweet. Obviously we ended the season disappointedly with, you know, the outcome. But in some ways it was quite an excited feeling going into pre-season and hopefully that will create a basis for good success for the season.

“Obviously it’s never guaranteed, but that was the feeling and it’s still the feeling. I’m looking forward to this year. I’m looking forward to the intensity, to the games and hopefully we can win a lot of games.”

Van Dijk even had to deal with flak from fellow Dutch legend Marco van Basten who criticised his leadership style for Holland. Typically, the unflappable Van Dijk refused to dwell on van Basten’s stinging comments.

“You can’t change it so you just have to deal with it,” said the centre-half. “That’s the only thing you can do.”

For the first time since 2017, Liverpool are not expected to challenge Manchester City for the title and Jurgen Klopp has spoken about the Reds being rebooted after their summer overhaul in midfield. Qualifying for the Champions League, either through the Premier League or by winning the Europa League, is the goal, but van Dijk refused to be drawn on specific targets.

The Holland captain just wants to see Liverpool back up with the table, challenging for honours. “We want to be back up as high as possible, where we have been apart from last year, challenging for all trophies,” he said.

“That’s what we want to do until the last day of any competitive game, but we know it’s going to be tough. We know it’s a tough thing to do and I think for us it’s trying to show that improvement and consistency that we’ve been looking for. Our focus is to win as many games as possible and then see what happens at the end of the year.”

Roberto Firmino was among the senior stars to leave Liverpool this summer

Van Dijk will captain a new-look Liverpool at Chelsea in their opening game and the summer departures of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Roberto Firmino mean Joe Gomez is the only player who pre-dates Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Van Dijk knows he has taken over with Liverpool in transition, but is adamant they still have the squad to be successful.

“We’re going to miss those guys,” he said. “We’ve shared so many good things with each other, including the successes that we’ve had, but that’s life.

“Others are here now and will have to be important for the club. All of us as players, we go through this every now and then and losing your captain and vice-captain is a big thing. But it is what it is. I’m looking forward to this season to be successful as a group, as a club, and including myself because I’m part of this beautiful club.”