Liverpool are about to start their Premier League title defence under a cloud of grief, but captain Virgil van Dijk believes that togetherness—between players and fans—will be their strongest weapon this year.
The Reds are still mourning the heartbreaking loss of forward Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car crash in Spain last month along with his younger brother, André Silva.
The Portuguese star, just 28 years old, has been remembered in numerous heartfelt tributes, with another planned when Liverpool kick off the season at Anfield on Friday night against Bournemouth.
Standing Strong Through Heartbreak
Van Dijk made it clear that the only way the team can cope with such a devastating summer is by staying united.
“It will be a very difficult season, but we are all in this together,” the Dutch defender said.
“As a team, fans, club—it was always going to be tough after everything that happened with Diogo.
The only way to overcome it is through togetherness and the collective spirit.”
A Fresh Start After Last Season’s Triumph
While the memories of last season’s Premier League triumph are still fresh, Van Dijk knows they mean little now.
“Last season is last season,” he reminded. “This year we start from scratch, and we have to work our socks off.
The Premier League is so competitive—any team can beat another, home or away. There are no easy games.”
On top of that, Liverpool will also be navigating the Champions League.
For Van Dijk, it’s all about focus: staying fit, playing for the team, and tackling the season one match at a time.
Pre-Season Reflections and Squad Concerns
The 34-year-old completed his first full 90 minutes of pre-season during Sunday’s Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace.
While he feels Liverpool are in decent shape, he admitted they might be “a couple of players light” heading into the campaign.
When asked about new signings, Van Dijk laughed:
“I don’t know—we’ll find out. Hugo [Ekitike], who scored, has impressed on and off the ball since he arrived.
And what a finish that was.”
But he couldn’t ignore the departures: Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez have moved on, along with the tragic loss of Jota—three senior attackers gone in a short space of time.
“I fully trust the club to do the right thing,” he said.
Defensive Worries Before the Big Kick-Off
With just days before their season opener, Van Dijk acknowledged that Liverpool’s defence needs sharpening.
“I think we’re in good shape overall,” he said.
“But we’ve conceded in every game we’ve played this pre-season except Stoke—and that was behind closed doors.”
The skipper stressed that defending is a collective effort, not just about the backline. Pressing, shape, and teamwork all play a role.
“If there was a simple fix, we’d have done it already,” he admitted. “It’s about working together.
We’ll get back to the defensive standards we had last year. I’m not worried.”
Eyes on Friday Night
Despite the challenges, Van Dijk is ready for Friday’s emotional season opener at Anfield.
The night will be charged with emotion as players and fans come together to remember Jota—and then turn their focus to defending the Premier League crown.