Van Dijk Sends Message as Liverpool Close In on Premier League Glory | OneFootball

Virgil van Dijk on Liverpool’s Title Chase: “We Have to Be Ready to Finish the Job”

Focus Sharpens with the Finish Line in Sight

There’s a quiet authority to the way Virgil van Dijk speaks — not just as a defender marshalling a backline, but as the beating heart of a team on the brink of immortality. Following Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Leicester City, it’s not just results that suggest the title is within reach, it’s the tone of their captain.

“It’s a great feeling to be in this position, something we don’t take for granted,” said Van Dijk. Liverpool’s 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League, with five games remaining, means they could be crowned champions as early as Wednesday night should Arsenal slip up against Crystal Palace. If not, Sunday’s clash with Tottenham at Anfield presents a crowning opportunity.

What stands out in Van Dijk’s post-match words is an emphasis not on celebration, but on preparation. “We’ve got a week to prepare. If anything happens on Wednesday then happy days, if not then we have to finish it off and we have to be at our best to do that.”

Big Moments Define Big Teams

This season hasn’t been without its stumbles — a narrow loss at Brentford, late drama in Newcastle — but Liverpool have developed a sense of inevitability. The 1-0 win at Leicester wasn’t spectacular, but it was commanding. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decisive strike, following a barrage of 28 shots and nearly 60% possession, was less an act of desperation and more one of destiny.

“It’s been, in my opinion, an outstanding season,” Van Dijk reflected. “A lot of good moments actually, a lot of wins and good performances.” This wasn’t bravado. It was an honest assessment of a team that has controlled its own narrative.

Photo IMAGO

History Beckons at Anfield

If — or when — Liverpool clinch the title, it will be Van Dijk lifting the Premier League trophy. “Of course, I can’t deny it, I would lie to you if [I said] it didn’t cross my mind,” he admitted.

But the moment is not yet the focus. “We have worked so hard to be in this position throughout the whole season, we have been so consistent… Now we have a big opportunity – because it’s an opportunity, nothing else – to finish it off.”

Van Dijk will become only the 11th Liverpool captain to lift the English league title — a feat that echoes through Anfield’s illustrious past. From Emlyn Hughes to Jordan Henderson, that honour isn’t merely historic. It is symbolic of leadership at the highest level.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

If you’re a Liverpool supporter, this week is wrapped in anticipation. Not nervousness, but expectation. Virgil van Dijk embodies what fans want from a captain: calm, belief, and steel in the spine. His words are as precise as his passing — deliberate, reflective, but laser-focused.

Supporters can feel the crescendo coming. After months of graft, a patchwork of gritty away wins and stylish home displays, this isn’t just about silverware. It’s about vindication. For the players. For the new manager. For the supporters who backed a new era.

Slot’s subtle tweaks have gone under the radar, but the impact is clear — this side is flexible, resilient, and most importantly, united. Trent’s goal at Leicester wasn’t just a winner, it was a sign that roles can be redefined and moments can still be seized by those with big-game DNA.

Arsenal may yet drag it out, but make no mistake — this title has Liverpool’s fingerprints all over it. There’s a job to finish, and fans are ready to roar them over the line.