Six years ago today, the Kop welcomed a new hero. They’d gathered at Anfield for a crunch Merseyside Derby in the third round of the FA Cup and, after a dragged-out transfer saga, £75m man Virgil van Dijk made his debut.
Manager Jurgen Klopp described it as a fairy tale, after the Dutchman rose highest from a late corner to head home a winner, days after joining the club.
"A fairy tale in a world with not a lot of fairy tales anymore, so I think something like that is quite special,” the German said. “It was a difficult decision to make to be honest because, to be 100 percent honest, the first plan was not to start him tonight but then Dejan [Lovren] and Raggy [Ragnar Klavan] played a lot of games in the last few weeks, so I changed my mind this morning. And it helped!"
From that moment, Van Dijk had the confidence to quickly establish himself as a key member of the dressing room. He was by far the best centre-back at the club, and became integral to the progression of a team that was evolving rapidly under Klopp.
It was the season Manchester City registered 100 points in the Premier League and Liverpool were way off competing for the title, as they eventually finished fourth to secure Champions League football. But it was in Europe where they were able to flourish. Van Dijk joined a side that had topped their group, and all of a sudden, momentum began to build.
A 5-0 success away at Porto saw them into the last eight, when a special night at Anfield saw them dismantle Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg. Those special nights would be something Van Dijk would not only grow accustomed to, but relish. There would be another in the semi-final against Roma, and although they came up short against Real Madrid in the final, it was a clear marker of intent.
Van Dijk had calmed an erratic defence, but ultimately the goalkeeper Loris Karius cost them the final. Alisson would join from Roma that summer and Klopp’s wonderful spine of his team was complete. All of a sudden they were solid at the back, even with Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold practically playing as wingers. Van Dijk could hold the fort as others bombed on, while the Kop had a new song for their favourite defender.
“He’s our centre half, he’s our number four, watch him defend, and we watch him score. He’ll pass the ball, calm as you like, he’s Virgil van Dijk, he’s Virgil van Dijk!”
Watch him defend and we watch him score,
He can pass the ball, as calm as you like,
He's Virgil van Dijk, he's Virgil Van Dijk🎶
Thoughts on the new chant Reds?!
Van Dijk’s calmness is his standout quality. Under pressure, he doesn’t rush or dive in and he always backs himself to get the better of a forward, even when the odds seem against him. As Liverpool won the Champions League the following season and pushed City all the way for the title he was simply imperious, and for many the best centre-back in the world.
Then came the Premier League win Liverpool had waited 30 years for. Once again Van Dijk was integral as Klopp did what he set out to do in his very first press conference. If you asked the Dutchman when he joined the club six years ago if he would have been happy with one Champions League trophy and one Premier League title, he would have almost certainly said yes, but 2021-22 still feels like a missed opportunity.
Liverpool were two games away from completing the unthinkable quadruple. When Aston Villa were 2-0 up at Man City on the final day, Liverpool were so close to another league title. But ultimately, they ended with both domestic cups and on the wrong end of a Champions League final that nobody wants to remember, due to the heavy-handed French police outside.
Liverpool regressed last term, and Van Dijk didn't escape criticism. When Manchester United beat them at Old Trafford, his ‘calmness’ meant Jadon Sancho had all the time in the world for the opener, and as Liverpool’s midfield disintegrated, he was unable to save them. But this year they are back at the top of the Premier League, with Van Dijk now captaining the club after Jordan Henderson's departure for Al-Ettifaq last summer.
Van Dijk is a player who has revolutionised Klopp’s Liverpool side. Few could have predicted this when he signed from Southampton, but £75m has turned out to be somewhat of a bargain. And he isn’t done yet.
