Van Dijk Eyes Liverpool Legacy with Carabao Cup Triumph

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says winning the Carabao Cup would help establish him as one of the club's greatest captains, alongside lifting a second trophy as skipper and cementing his legacy at Anfield.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk believes that winning the Carabao Cup against Newcastle would solidify his position as one of the club's greatest captains. A victory would mark his second League Cup triumph, further cementing his legacy as a Liverpool leader.

Van Dijk has fond memories of his first trophy as captain, scoring the winning goal in the 118th minute against Chelsea at Wembley last year. He hopes to replicate that success and etch his name alongside the storied captains in Liverpool's history.

Virgil van Dijk, who took over as Liverpool captain in 2023, replacing Jordan Henderson, under Jurgen Klopp and has retained the armband under new manager Arne Slot, is eager to leave a lasting legacy at the club. The 33-year-old Dutch defender believes that winning two trophies as captain would earn him a place among the greatest captains in Liverpool's history. “If you were to lift the two trophies, I think you have a pretty good chance to be on a nice list of captains that have achieved great things in this club,” Van Dijk told British media ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.

Van Dijk's ambition to be remembered as one of Liverpool's greatest captains is a driving force for him. He acknowledged that achieving this goal would require hard work, saying, “That’s obviously a big dream of mine since I became the captain of the club. We’re not there, we have a lot of hard work still to do.” Despite his uncertain contract situation, with his current deal expiring in June, Van Dijk remains focused on his responsibilities as captain.

Go time 👏#CarabaoCupFinal ⏭️ pic.twitter.com/0MNrnfw3vR

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 16, 2025

Van Dijk expressed his confidence in his current form, stating, “I feel I am in one of the best shapes in my career and you have been seeing that.” He also emphasized his enjoyment of playing, leading, and being responsible for his teammates, saying, “I enjoy playing, I enjoy leading the boys out, I enjoy being there for each and every one of them and I enjoy the responsibility more than ever, maybe because I am getting older slowly.” When asked about his contract situation, Van Dijk adopted a calm approach, saying, “So let’s wait and see.”

The Reds 🔴 pic.twitter.com/j4aMKGf6Sn

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 16, 2025