1 week Ago By Liverpool Echo
Virgil van Dijk urged "everyone who is connected to Liverpool" to celebrate their Premier League success after the Reds were confirmed as winners with a 5-1 drubbing of Tottenham Hotspur. Van Dijk played his part in the game that sealed league title No.20 at Anfield .
And an emotional Reds skipper said he and his colleagues were deserved victors for the 24/25 campaign after going 15 points clear of Arsenal with just four games to play. The club captain spoke at a post-match conference prior to Arne Slot's media dealings in the Anfield press room. And Van Dijk was full of praise for his team-mates, the coaching staff and those behind the scenes at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby .
READ MORE: What John Henry did on pitch after Liverpool title win shows genius behind incredible achievement READ MORE: Emotional Mohamed Salah sends message to Jurgen Klopp and ex-Liverpool team-mates after title win Here's what the now two-time Premier League winner had to say on what was a famous day for Liverpool Van Dijk said: "First and foremost, it's been an amazing Premier League season for us. We've been consistent [we are] well-deserved winners and the reaction we showed after going 1-0 down today was outstanding. Obviously it was a very emotional game.
"The time went very slow towards the end but I am glad we got the job done. I speak about everyone who is connected to Liverpool can celebrate and enjoy because that is what you should do as well. "Obviously I think, in my opinion, it is the hardest league in the world to win so when it is a glorious day in terms of the atmosphere, the weather and a good opponent.
"It was incredible to be a part of and I think the manager touched on it already on the pitch that we have now two titles in five years, so that is a big achievement in my opinion. "Around that time (of Jurgen Klopp's leaving announcement) we were still fighting for the title as well and I had a lot of confidence in my team. We came up short towards the end and I think that was pretty obvious and we weren't good enough towards the end.
We couldn't find the consistency that we had before that. "But listen, to replace Jurgen is a good job and I think the manager did it in his own way, with his own staff and I think he deserves a lot of credit for that. "And, yeah, I don't think anyone that has been said from the outside world that we would have been Premier League champions.
"That is football, as well. We have to perform as well, we have to be consistent, try to win games, find ways to win games and that is what we have done. "To lift the trophy as captain? Ah listen, it will be amazing.
Even today, it was an emotional day with me and my family because the whole week was quite slow, it takes ages before match-day and I think every Liverpool fan across the world thinks that and then today is match-day, you see so many fans already in red, outside, getting ready from early on and you just want to get the job done. "I am very happy that I can lift the trophy in front of our beautiful fans and I think I will be very emotional. "A game I remember that sticks out? Not really.
I have been in title races and I have obviously lost a couple and I think it is key to focus on yourself, and that is what we try to do, to win games and not look ahead of us. "And obviously that is difficult to do because there is so much noise and so many teams doing this and that and results going this way and that way. "You have to try and keep your eyes on your own team and performances and that is the only way, in my opinion, to consistency and success.
"I am glad we did because that is still the most difficult thing in life, not only football, to just be consistent. So if you have the consistency then keep it. I am glad we did and like I said, we have to be proud of ourselves to enjoy it and soak it all in.
"It is about consistency, winning game after game, after game. That is the key. It's a whole team process.
"Obviously guys don't always start but they come on and have an impact and not only the players, the staff play a big part, the people around us at the AXA, the fans, everyone has to play a part and from day one it was pretty obvious we had big goals and big dreams on our hands and that we wanted to fulfill it. I am glad we did, we got the big one and it is amazing.".
