Virgil van Dijk: "I Can't Wait to Hear the Champions League Tune Again"

09/16/2024 11:58 AM

After spending a year in the Europa League, Van Dijk and Liverpool are back in the new-look Champions League for 2024-25.

After spending the 2023-24 season in the Europa League, Liverpool are back in Europe's premier cup competition for the 2024-25 season albeit with the Champions League having been tweaked with a league stage replacing the old autumn group format.

Two extra games and more varied opponents as teams no longer play home-and-home are the headlining differences, but whatever the finer format points it remains a competition pitting the best against the best and Virgil van Dijk is happy to be back in it.

"I missed it," said the Liverpool captain. "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 and let's go out there and put a performance in.

"I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully all our fans travelling to support us will be in high spirits and loud voices. We have a good group that really understand that Saturday was unacceptable. We can do better and we have to show that on Tuesday."

Saturday was Liverpool's first stumble under new head coach Arne Slot after three wins—and three clean sheets—to start the season, with an unchanged side looking leggy and out of ideas against the well-drilled deep block of opponents Nottingham Forest.

The expectation, then, will be for at least some changes on Tuesday as Van Dijk and the Reds look to bounce back after Saturday's Premier League disappointment, but what rotation might look like for the Reds under Slot so far is something of a mystery.

"Hopefully if there are no injuries happening then rhythm is always a good thing," Van Dijk added. "We need the whole squad and we know after the international break it will be a game every three days so we need everyone in their best shape and best form."