Van Dijk: Champions League Victory Will Ease Premier League Frustration

By Joshua Walters

Virgil van Dijk says that Liverpool’s frustration of missing out on the Premier League title will be eased if they can overcome Tottenham Hotspurs in the Champions League final in Madrid next month.

Despite accumulating 97 points, 30 wins and recording just a single defeat all-season, the five-time European champions, missed out on a first league title in 29 years to Manchester City, who became the first side to defend the Premier League trophy in a decade.

The former Celtic defender however believes Liverpool can give their Anfield fans something to cheer about with victory in Madrid on June 1.

“Congratulations to City, they deserved it by one point. It was a great title race and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it,” Van Dijk said.

“But we have to look on the positive side and remember we are still in Madrid, hopefully we can end the season on a high. That’s what we are going to try to do.

“‘Frustrated’ is the right word. I think we are all going to be a little disappointed because we are so close. To get 97 points, to play football like we have played all season, we have to be very, very proud.

“I don’t care about another opinion, but we work so hard every day to be challenging to be as close as possible, but City were just a tiny little bit better than us, and that’s football as well.

“It doesn’t mean it is all over. We take a lot of things with us, we will take this on, and hopefully we can challenge next year and do even better.”

Van Dijk, who won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year late last month, was again named the Premier League Player of the Year after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the season’s last game at Anfield on Sunday.

The Dutch centre back joined Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018 for a reported fee of £75 million, and has played 38 Premier League games, recording 4 goals as well as two goals in his 11 Champions League appearances this season.