Virgil Van Dijk: “We Found A Way And That Is Key”

After two months of dire results, Liverpool have slowly been chipping away at their points deficit over the past month. Against Wolves on Saturday, the Reds again made life more difficult for themselves than it needed to be, but still managed to walk away with a win in their last match of 2025. After the match, captain Virgil van Dijk provided his thoughts to Liverpoolfc.com. He said that getting another hard fought three points in an up and down season was the key for the day.

I think unfortunately we conceded the goal quite early on [in the second half] and that gives them a big boost and some momentum for them to crack on. I think we played a very, very good first half and [scored] two good goals. [In] possession we were good, defensively we were solid and [had] no problems. Obviously they would come out with a lot more pressure [in the second half] and we have to try to do the same things, which [is what] we said at half-time.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t do that, but obviously that’s also part of how Wolves did that. Overall, we found a way and that is key, especially in the season and in the moment where we are and where we have a lot of injuries and players missing. It’s not an excuse for the second half, but obviously it’s good that we got the win and that’s very important.

Liverpool’s two goals came in just under two minutes late in the first half, with Ryan Gravenberch netting first before being quickly followed up by Florian Wirtz’s first goal for the club. When asked if it was was important to score those two quick goals before the half, van Dijk stated the obvious of yes.

One hundred per cent. But obviously like what I said, in the first half they didn’t press as high as they did in the second half, which obviously was going to be expected because they’re 2-0 down. In the first half I thought we did very well and that’s something we should build on.

The Liverpool captain was also quite happy to see Wirtz find the back of the net. Van Dijk said Wirtz has been working to deal with the intensity of the Premier League.

He’s getting more used to the intensity and the way we play. He’s very important on the ball and obviously his qualities there is no debate about. We are very pleased for him, but he should be very pleased with the goal as well. I think after 60 minutes or something he was quite tired so that’s something he and we have to work on as well in order to do that every three days for 90 minutes.

Wirtz’s goal would prove to be the winning goal after Liverpool would go on to concede from yet another set piece early in the second half. The Reds have had to fight their way to results during their seven match unbeaten stretch, and van Dijk said the squad have had to dig deep to make sure they end up with three points over the last few matches.

You have to find a way to win and I think if you look at the season it’s been up and down. There’s been good games and unfortunately some bad games. Then you have to try to do everything and fight for every second on the pitch. I think you can see that, not only today, but over the last couple of games that we really want to get the wins on the board. Today was a good one.

While the match itself was the main event, both Liverpool and Wolves supporters came together to celebrate the life of Diogo Jota, a player important to both clubs. Jota’s children and other family members came out with the players prior to the match, serving as the match mascots. For van Dijk, it was an emotional but positive moment, and he hopes there will be continued ways to support Diogo’s family.

It was an absolute honour to have the boys with me and Ali [Alisson Becker] as well together. I think it was something I was really looking forward to. Obviously after discussions with Rute [Diogo’s wife] and the family it was really something I looked forward to. It was going to be emotional, but I think it’s something that the boys will remember forever. Hopefully there’s more to come in the future for them and they can keep enjoying Liverpool because Liverpool is the place that’s very big to their hearts and Diogo will always stay with us forever. I was very proud to have them with us and the fans I think appreciated that as well.