Virgil Van Dijk: “We Need The Fans”

There’s a strong argument to be made that no Premier League club has missed playing in front of supporters more than Liverpool. The Anfield crowd and the traveling Kop are famous for giving LFC an edge or a much-needed boost, and that was clearly missing at times as the COVID-19 pandemic forced teams to play in empty stadiums.

After two matches in front of full crowds to start the new Premier League campaign, it’s clear that players are just as thrilled to see fans in the stands as the fans are to be back. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk explained how happy he and his teammates were to have supporters back in his post-match interview with Liverpool FC’s website.

“Even an early kick-off, to see all the fans back is a big buzz. We all enjoy it,” said Van Dijk.

“It’s something that hopefully is going to be normal again because we need the fans – whether it’s at home games but also the away games, we need the atmosphere of fans. We’ve seen how football is, it belongs to the fans, with the fans. I’m just glad everyone is back.”

As for the team’s performance against Burnley, van Dijk acknowledges that there are still some things the squad can improve on, but it’s hard to fuss too much with six points taken and zero goals conceded in two matches.

“Obviously to win the first two games with no goals conceded is just a good thing, something to build on,” Van Dijk said. “We’re not there yet, we feel that, but the only thing we can do is try to win the game in front of us and that’s what we did today.”

“We knew it was going to be very tough, it’s always been tough against these guys. They play a certain way, they make it very difficult for us and they did today again. A lot of physical battles, a totally different challenge to last week.

“It was good to get the clean sheet again and something to build on, good things. There are some things that should be better, but to win here today with the fans back is just great.”