Virgil van Dijk has urged Liverpool to carry renewed belief into the New Year as the Reds welcome Leeds United to Anfield, as reported by Softfootball. The Premier League fixture offers Arne Slot’s side a chance to register a fourth consecutive league win and continue a seven-game unbeaten run across all competitions, as detailed in the match build-up coverage.
With momentum slowly returning, the Liverpool captain believes the opening game of 2026 must reflect clear intent and unity, as highlighted in Conor Bradley’s preview of the Anfield clash.
In his programme notes, which were shared on the club’s official X account, Van Dijk acknowledges that the season has not unfolded as hoped but stresses that recent performances show signs of recovery. He explains that optimism is shared within the squad and directed toward supporters.
He said:
I certainly go into this year with optimism, which I hope you all share.
He admits the players feel the disappointment as much as the fans, adding:
We know that this season hasn’t gone the way we hoped it would so far, and trust me when I say that we are as disappointed as anyone at that.
The Liverpool skipper points to the recent unbeaten sequence as something to build on, even if performances have not been flawless.
Emphasising perspective, he said:
It hasn’t been perfect, by any means, but to go seven games unbeaten in all competitions, we have to take that and be encouraged by that.
For Van Dijk, the next step is consistency, which he believes will define Liverpool’s second half of the campaign.
He added:
The key now is to build on this recent run, to show some consistency and put ourselves in an even stronger position in the coming weeks.
Hard work remains the central theme of his message. Van Dijk is clear that improvement will not come without daily effort.
He stated:
As ever, it all comes back to hard work.
He also dismisses injury concerns as an excuse, noting the depth within the squad and the return of key players, insisting there can be no hiding place for standards to drop.
Looking specifically at Leeds United, Van Dijk anticipates a tough contest against a side in good form but highlights Liverpool’s pride in their home performances.
He underlines the collective focus on delivering an Anfield display supporters can rally behind.
He then concluded with a simple but powerful call to action:
Of course, we want to start the year with a victory today, especially playing at Anfield… Let’s start 2026 the right way.
For Liverpool, the message is clear. The New Year begins with belief, responsibility, and the expectation that recent promises must now turn into sustained results.
