Virgil van Dijk has been speaking openly about his time so far at Liverpool, including his debut, his new chant making fun of the blue half of Merseyside and dealing with the stature of Liverpool football club.
Since signing with the club last January, Liverpool’s defence has been rock solid with the Reds having conceded the joint-fewest goals so far this Premier League season.
The Dutch defender couldn’t have wished for a better debut when they faced rivals Everton in the FA Cup on the 5th of January this year.
The 27-year old was given the opportunity to make his mark by Jürgen Klopp but it was in attack where Van Dijk fulfilled his dreams in front of the Kop.
Van Dijk became a hero with just over five minutes to play, heading home the winner against their bitter rivals.
When describing the goal to make it 2-1, Van Dijk’s joy, even after all this time, is evident, quoted by Sport Witness:
When that cross came, I knew that I would come for Jordan Pickford. But yes, it goes so fast. You just do what you think you should do and then you appear to be at the ball. Goal.
This moment also allowed the Liverpool fans to come up with a chant that poked fun at Everton in the process:
The score is 1-1, as tense as you like. Then up pops the head of Virgil Van Dijk. Oh Everton, we’re all laughing at you.
The Dutch international saw this as being immediately taken in by the fans and allowed him to feel welcome after his £75 million move from Southampton.
Haha, yes I know this too. The fans sang this after my debut against Everton. If you then also make the winning goal, yes, that counts. I was immediately taken in.
Van Dijk was also welcomed with open arms by his teammates as he revealed about his time after the match.
After that match we went with the team for a short training camp to Dubai. That was perfect, that way I got to know everybody in no time and it turned out that it clicked right away. It has always remained that way. You know, I’ve only been playing Liverpool for ten months, but I feel like I’ve been around here for a long time.
Finally, the Liverpool number four also opened up on what it is like to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world and the pressures that come with it.
Of course I knew Liverpool, who doesn’t in the world. You form a picture of such a club from a distance and then you realise that it must be very big.
If you then, like me, start playing with Southampton, it gets a bit deeper: that stadium, those people, the You’ll Never Walk Alone, all great. But then you will be completely surprised and overwhelmed once you sign a contract here. And after that it will take a while before you really get it.
