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Virgil van Dijk during training - Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Virgil van Dijk’s last-gasp winner in last year’s Carabao Cup final was pure theatre, so it should be no surprise that he readied himself for Wembley this weekend by embracing another drama.
“One of my daughters [Jadi] was in a school play on Thursday. Fantastic Mr Fox,” he says.
“Wataru Endo’s son was also playing a good role – he played the rat. Jadi was really good, so I was really proud of her.”
Van Dijk is beaming during this brief insight into the domestic bliss which allowed him to recover from the Champions League exit against Paris St-Germain, describing his enthusiasm for the school run and helping his children with their homework as switches off from the relentless pursuit of trophies, while having every facet of his game and future forensically examined.
“I like to do ‘normal’ things,” he says, sounding as chilled as the vanilla-scented smoothie he has brought into the interview.
“When you go to school, obviously some of the kids are looking up, thinking, ‘What are you doing here?’ But I really like doing that.”
Attention will switch to Newcastle’s “fox in the box” – Alexander Isak – by Sunday afternoon’s League Cup final.
“A very good player,” says Van Dijk. “Obviously I played against him many times. I know his strengths, because he has quite a lot. He’s a threat and he looks like a very good guy as well. It will be a challenge.”
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Alexander Isak celebrates scoring the first goal in a 3-3 league draw with Liverpool at St James’ Park last December - Getty Images/Serena Taylor
Liverpool’s captain is the most media-accessible Anfield superstar since Steven Gerrard was in his prime; fronting up after every match, always engaging on the most pressing issues with no topic out of bounds.
His focus here is primarily Liverpool’s defence of the Carabao Cup, but he is comfortable discussing Saudi interest, Wayne Rooney branding him ‘lazy’ for PSG’s Anfield winner, and his legacy should he be the 11th skipper in the club’s illustrious history to lift the league title.
“That’s not something for me to say about myself, but if I were to lift the two trophies it means you have a pretty good chance to be on a nice list of captains that have achieved great things in this club,” he says.
The League Cup carries particular resonance after he secured an against-the-odds win over Chelsea a year ago, the context of 11 first-teamers absent with injury making it one of his career highlights.
“Yeah, I think so. One day I will properly reflect on everything,” he says.
“The players who were there had to deliver, and the young boys who came through did fantastic. We fought so hard, we kept going and we kept running and obviously you get the reward in the end for it. I just wanted to lift the trophy with Jürgen [Klopp], that was the main target, to get my first trophy [as captain] and lift it together.”
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Van Dijk lifts the Carabao Cup last year alongside Jurgen Klopp - Getty Images/Nigel French
There is as much motivation trying to win the first trophy for Arne Slot.
“Someone told me as well that people are saying that we’re only going for the league or something? That’s what I’ve heard,” says Van Dijk, daring his audience to agree.
“We want to win [the League Cup] so badly as well because we worked so hard to get where we are, and obviously it’s the first season together with the new regime. So we’re going in to try to beat them, and we know it’s going to be difficult.”
Van Dijk is aware of the two stories circling him after the PSG loss, beginning with Rooney’s criticism.
“Did you think I was lazy?” Van Dijk asks.
“Someone told me about this. I think at that particular moment I’m helping Andy Robertson, telling him to clear the outside while I take the inside. I’m even explaining now what I thought at that moment. But if he thought it was lazy then he gave his opinion and that’s it.
“There were so many challenges years ago for those players, and obviously it’s a challenge for the players nowadays that you have to deal with. [There are] opinions here and there and it gets blown up all the time.
“The boys are doing well in terms of keeping their heads down and focusing on the task ahead. Even in difficult times because no one’s going smooth sailing all the time, especially if you’re in the Premier League. If we get the reward for it at the end of the season then I’m sure Liverpool is going to be bouncing.”
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Contract news ‘by the end of the season’
Another consequence of Liverpool’s exit was Van Dijk raising the possibility of bringing down the curtain on his Anfield career amid suggestions the Saudis have offered a fortune.
“Well, I don’t think there’s any reason to comment on any of that,” he says.
“The only thing I can say, and I’ve said it already many times, is that I’m so proud to be the captain of this beautiful club that means so much to me.
“There’s obviously conversations going on, that’s absolutely fine, but they’re private and confidential. I love the fans, the fans love me, and I’ll keep working. I think everyone can see that in the way I play. I also feel in one of the best shapes that I’ve been in my career, and obviously you’ve been seeing that. I enjoy playing. I enjoy leading the boys out. I enjoy being there for each and every one. I feel that responsibility even more than ever, maybe because I’m getting older, slowly.
“It’s not a one-two-three discussion, and here we go. It’s multiple factors. There’s no reason to panic, whatever may happen. I don’t want to create any anxiety. My main focus is to be there for the team, be there for the manager and be there for the fans. I’m sure by the end of the season there’s news, but what kind of news, I have no idea.”
Can he really imagine himself in a different shirt next year?
“Well, at the moment I can’t, because I still have 10 games to go, so I can’t think about what’s going to happen after the summer,” he says.
“The most important thing is that you have to stay committed, and I’m fully committed to Liverpool at the moment. There’s no doubt about that.”
Whatever happens, and keeping in the family, it does not sound like Van Dijk is keen to exit stage right quite yet.
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