Virgil van Dijk exclusive: Liverpool captain on title ‘fight’ for Jurgen Klopp – ‘I want city to explode’

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says he wants to make “the city explode” by clinching the Premier League title to send Jurgen Klopp out in style.

The Reds are locked in a fierce three-way battle with Arsenal and Manchester City to be crowned champions of England.

Next up for Liverpool is the visit of Sheffield United on Thursday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Ahead of the match at Anfield, Van Dijk explained to TNT Sports what it would mean for Liverpool to clinch their second league crown under Klopp and their first since the Covid-hit 2019-20 season, when they were forced to celebrate in an empty stadium.

“We experienced it once without the fans. It makes me want to achieve it even more because I want the fans to be there with us,” Van Dijk said.

“I want the city to explode when we get the trophy in our hands. That’s what we fight for. That’s what we fight for since day one when pre-season started.

“That’s why all our sacrifices will hopefully be rewarded. The other two teams are also doing it.

“That’s the beauty of football. We have to fight as hard as we can to play and win games and hopefully be on the good side in the end.”

Liverpool face stiff competition with nine games of the Premier League season remaining.

After wins for Arsenal and defending champions City in midweek, Liverpool sit in second place and need a win on Thursday to regain top spot.

“The standard is very high. You can only be playing for the title if you are consistent and all three of us have been very consistent throughout the season,” Van Dijk continued.

“Winning games…sometimes when you have to come from behind or score in the last minute and each one of us has been doing that.

“Consistency is key, not only as a player but as a team because everyone has to play their part in that case.”

So how much attention is Van Dijk paying to Liverpool’s title rivals?

“To be fair, I don’t really watch it that much. Obviously a very good friend of mine in Nathan Ake plays for City, so obviously we see each other now and then,” Van Dijk said.

“In the end, what I’ve learned over the years, is that you have to focus on yourself. That’s the only thing you have influence on.

“You get the results because I don’t live under a rock – that’s just something you will get. But, in the end, it’s about making sure you are the best version at the game, in order to win the game. That takes time as well. That’s the main focus.”

Last summer saw big change at Anfield, with the likes of Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Roberto Firmino leaving the club after a fifth-place finish.

A midfield revolution took place with the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo, leaving few predicting that a Liverpool side seemingly in transition would finish top of the standings.

“It’s been an incredible season for us, in so many different ways. A lot has happened so far,” Van Dijk said.

“Obviously red cards, injuries, young players coming through, manager leaving announcement at the end of the season.

“So yeah, it’s been a rollercoaster, a little bit, but it’s been a good rollercoaster. Let’s keep it that way. Let’s see what the last couple of months are going to bring, where we are going to give it everything and hopefully to get some silverware.”

Undoubtedly the biggest bump on the rollercoaster ride was Klopp’s shock announcement in January that he would leave the club at the end of the season.

The German will depart after nine years at the helm at Anfield, where he has led the club back to the top of English and European football with Premier League and Champions League victories.

He was also responsible for the £75 million signing of Netherlands international Van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018, at the time a world record fee for a defender.

And the 32-year-old, who succeeded Henderson as Reds captain in the summer, is expecting emotional scenes when the club says goodbye to the legendary manager at the end of the campaign.

“It means a lot. The manager means a lot to me. Making sure I joined Liverpool is something I will never take for granted. I will always be grateful,” Van Dijk said.

“What we achieved at the club, he made my dream come true. It’s special and I will always cherish that. We are definitely going to miss him but we still have a job to do.

“It’s not only that we are going to try and do this only for him. We are going to try and do it for ourselves, do it for the fans, do it for every Liverpool fan around the world.

“Definitely at the end of the season it’s going to be emotional but let’s make it good emotional, that we have something to celebrate. We will see. But that he will be missed is for sure.”