"I can't wait to be out there" - Liverpool star keen for Champions League return after disappointing Nottingham Forest defeat
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has expressed his eagerness to return to the UEFA Champions League following a one-year absence. Speaking to The Liverpool Echo (via Tribal Football), the Dutchman expressed his delight at returning to Europe's premier club competition after a year away.
Speaking about Liverpool's return to the Champions League, van Dijk said:
"I missed it. I can't wait to be out there hearing the Champions League tune and leading out the boys. A club like Liverpool needs to be in the Champions League and we are finally back."
The skipper then mentioned how important it is for the Reds to be at their best in the tournament, adding:
"Let's go out there and put a much better performance in than we did today (against Nottingham Forest) as it is needed otherwise we are going to have an issue.
"I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully all our fans traveling over there to support us will be in high spirits and loud voices."
The Reds finished fifth in the Premier League in the 2022-23 season and played in the Europa League last season, where they were eliminated by Italian side Atalanta in the quarter-finals. However, they did well domestically last season and finished third in the league, earning an automatic qualification spot for this year's Champions League.
Arne Slot's side suffered a disappointing 1-0 home defeat in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest in their last game on Saturday, September 14. Moving on from that, Virgil van Dijk and the Reds will look to turn things around when they travel to face AC Milan at the San Siro on September 17.
Former Red Thiago fondly remembers his time at Liverpool
Former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara only had positive words to say about his time at Anfield when reminiscing that phase in a recent interview. Speaking to the media (via Anfield Edition on X) he said:
"I believe it was one of the best times of my life."
Having made the move from Bayern Munich in 2020 for a reported fee of £25 million plus add-ons, Thiago was an important player for the team. However, his involvement was limited due to several injury layoffs as he ended up making a total of 98 appearances for the club, scoring three goals and assisting six.
The 33-year-old won the FA Cup in the 2021-22 season and the FA Community Shield at the start of the following season but could not establish himself as a regular. He was also part of the team that finished runners-up to Real Madrid in the 2021-22 Champions League Final.
With several injuries affecting his output, the Spaniard finally called time on his illustrious career in July 2024.