The Captain is excited about another chance to earn silverware.
Liverpool earned their way to another League Cup final, overcoming a one goal deficit on the two-legged tie against Tottenham Hotspur. The Reds dropped four goals on Ange Postecoglou’s side at Anfield.
One might think that given Liverpool’s history in the competition – the tournament’s most successful side of all-time with 10 trophies in total – this might be a bit ho hum, but knowing that this particular squad’s mentality as shown over the past few years, the lads are decidedly excited about the chance to earn the first trophy under Arne Slot.
Excited and focused. At least that’s the sentiment given by captain – and goal scorer – Virgil Van Dijk when he was interviewed by the official site following the match.
“I’m always proud to be leading out the boys. These occasions are obviously special and we’re really looking forward to it. When the time is there, we will be ready. It will be a difficult game, but any game that we play at the moment is difficult. We have to keep going and let’s see what it brings.”
Liverpool are one step closer to getting to a first title in this campaign, while remaining alive in all other competitions. It is becoming more common for us to be deep into those competitions come this time of year, a thing that was certainly not the case during the period before Jurgen Klopp’s tenure with the squad.
It is with that knowledge, then, that I am relishing this: a giant validation of the investment and work that FSG, Michael Edwards, Jurgen Klopp, Arne Slot and everyone else involved in setting up this squad. It is work well done that has Liverpool back at a position where going deep in all competitions is an expectation and not mere hope.