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Virgil van Dijk news
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The gist
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk called last season's title defence "unacceptable" and said everyone is up.
The 35-year-old's warning to teammates and praise for new signings signal a reset after.
Background
Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League last season with 60 points, a significant drop from winning the title in 2024-25. This led to Arne Slot losing his job and the appointment of Andoni Iraola as head coach. Van Dijk, as captain, has been vocal about the need for improvement and has embraced the fresh start.
How it unfolded
- 2025 -26 seasonLiverpool finished fifth in the Premier League with 60 points, leading to the dismissal of Arne Slot.
- Aug 16, 2026Van Dijk praised new signings Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo after their debuts in a 2-0 preseason win over Como.
- Aug 20, 2026Van Dijk called last season 'unacceptable' and said everyone is up for the challenge under new coach Andoni Iraola.
- Aug 22, 2026Liverpool are set to open their Premier League season against Newcastle United.
Who’s saying what
- Captain
- Van Dijk: 'We don't have a point to prove to anyone. We just have to show how much we care, how much we want to fight for this badge.'
- Analysts
- The Mirror notes Van Dijk's message to owners about transfers, suggesting he wants squad improvements to avoid a repeat of last season.