Virgil van Dijk says togetherness between players and fans is the best recipe for Liverpool this season as they look to defend their Premier League crown in the aftermath of a tragic summer.
Supporters and the squad remain in mourning over the devastating loss of striker Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain last month alongside his younger brother Andre Silva.
The Portuguese, 28, has received numerous heartwarming tributes and another is planned on Friday night when Liverpool begin their title defence at Anfield against Bournemouth. But captain Van Dijk says the best way to ease that pain is to all stick together.
‘It will be a very difficult season but we are all in this together,’ said the Dutchman. ‘As a team, fans, club, it was always going to be a tough season with everything that happened with Diogo over the summer, but the only way to overcome it is togetherness and the collective.’
On the season more generally, Van Dijk added: ‘What we have to do is realise last season is last season. This season we start from scratch and we have to work our socks off. The Premier League is so difficult, everyone can beat each other home and away, there are no easy games.
‘On top of that we have the Champions League. Game by game it is about looking after yourself, be fit, be there for the team. That is the main message and target for everyone. Everyone should look forward to Friday.’
Virgil van Dijk stressed that Liverpool fans and players must be united this season in the wake of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota
Both the Reds and Palace paid tribute to the late star and his brother Andre Silva at the Community Shield on Sunday
Van Dijk underscored the impact of losing such an experienced member of the squad and a close friend in the dressing room
Van Dijk, 34, completed his first 90 minutes of pre-season in the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday – and thinks that Liverpool are in good shape but maybe a couple of players light going into the new season.
Asked if they need some more signings, he laughed and said: ‘I don’t know, we will find out. What I think is that Hugo (Ekitike, who scored) made an impression on and off the ball since he came in, great finish by the way.
‘Everything that happened with Diogo, tragic… Lucho (Luis Diaz) and Darwin (Nunez) leaving. Those are three senior attackers. I fully trust the club to do the right thing, what they think is good for the club.’
Asked how the Premier League champions are shaping up with four days until the big kick-off, Van Dijk said: ‘Erm… I think we are in good shape. I know where you want to go with this question, the defensive part of our team. We have conceded every game we played apart from Stoke when no fans were there.
‘That is something we need to improve as a collective. Other than that it was good to feel the intensity again, to be back playing in the UK. So many good things today but I can’t lie, I am disappointed to come to Wembley and lose the last two times.
‘If it was that simple then I would have told you (the fix) immediately and we would have fixed it. But it is a combination, it is collective. You defend and press as a team. So, yeah, I don’t know how many chances we gave away here… a handful.
‘But the fact is that we have conceded every game bar one this pre-season. Something we have to work on. Definitely. We will. I am not worried whatsoever. There is a reason why we were defensively good last year and we can get back to it.’
