Dutch World Cup players have returned for their preseason training at the AXA training centre ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Club captain Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo have arrived following their holidays for preseason training.
The pair appeared in good spirits as they returned to the training complex with the rest of the first team squad in America preparing for a preseason fixture against Wrexham.
The pair will not join the tour in the USA and will stay in Merseyside to focus on fitness preparations.
The importance of Van Dijk and Gakpo
Following the Netherlands’ agonizing exit from the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 32, Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo return to Liverpool with unfinished business. Channeling international disappointment into club motivation often defines a player’s season, and both figures will be central to Liverpool’s domestic and European ambitions in 2026–27.
As Liverpool captain and defensive nucleus, Virgil van Dijk remains the ultimate floor-raiser for the squad. His leadership, positional mastery, and aerial dominance will be essential in steadying the backline across a grueling campaign. Bouncing back from setback has long been a hallmark of Van Dijk’s career; converting national team frustration into unrelenting focus at Anfield will ensure Liverpool maintain the defensive resilience required for deep trophy runs.
For Cody Gakpo, the upcoming campaign represents an opportunity to solidify his status as one of Europe’s premier attackers. Gakpo demonstrated his big-stage instincts during the tournament—including a crucial goal against Morocco—underlining his ability to deliver under intense pressure. His tactical flexibility across the front line, combined with his sharp movement and clinical finishing, provides Liverpool’s attack with dynamic variance. Entering his peak years, Gakpo’s output and confidence will be crucial in unlocking stubborn low blocks.
Together, Van Dijk’s defensive authority and Gakpo’s offensive versatility give Liverpool proven leadership at opposite ends of the pitch. Re-energized by the urge to respond on the domestic stage, their elite mentality and week-in, week-out consistency will dictate Liverpool’s success in the relentless season ahead.
