'I feel responsible for everyone at Liverpool' - Van Dijk reveals his role as the Reds captain

In 2015, he joined Southampton as a promising young player, and on Tuesday, he once again made the Premier League Team of the Year.

Van Dijk arrived in the Premier League through a €15.70 million transfer from Celtic to Southampton.

In his very first year, he became a firm starter for the Saints, for whom he made a total of 80 appearances and scored seven goals.

"In my first season there, we broke a lot of records under Ronald Koeman. He gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League, and I will be forever grateful to him for that. That season was truly unique," Van Dijk told Liverpool's official club website, as quoted by BTA, via Abola.

"I remember my debut too—an away game against West Brom. I remember coming out of the tunnel, I remember the Premier League anthem, and I remember we kept a clean sheet. I will never forget that special day. After the match, I felt like a little kid. I used to watch English football on TV, and on that day, I was part of the Premier League. My first two years at Southampton were magnificent."

Van Dijk moved to Liverpool in 2018 in a transfer worth €85 million, a club record at the time. Van Dijk became a club legend with his 321 matches and 28 goals. Crucially, he won two Premier League titles and a Champions League, which automatically earns you legendary status at Anfield.

"I am the first Dutch captain to win the title; we won the Champions League and other tournaments. I'm glad that people speak well of me, as that's something I strive to achieve," the defender continued.

When asked which players he learned the most from at the beginning, Van Dijk said: "Henderson and James Milner. I became the third captain after six months at the club, and that was a huge honour for me. I learned a lot, but I've always been that kind of person—I listen, I observe, I gather information, and I never forget anything. This is extremely important if you want to understand what it's like to play for Liverpool and to represent this club not just in the UK, but around the world. It's key. We keep it within us and pass it on. To the next one, and the next," Van Dijk added.

"After my first year, I already knew what it was like to be a Liverpool player. It's important to show it because people see it. I understand people who say that I am now what Jordan Henderson was back then. For people like him and me, it's something natural. As a captain, you think about many more things than people see. I'm happy to do it."

"At Liverpool, we're like a family. I feel responsible for everyone. It weighs on me when someone at the club is going through a tough period or is criticised more than they deserve. We give our all, and nobody wants to play poorly, but we are human too. When I'm in difficulty, guys like Robbo (Andy Robertson), Mo (Mohamed Salah), Ali (Alisson Becker), and Joe (Gomez) can lift me up. They do that job too. We are a team, first and foremost."

Last year, Liverpool lifted their 20th English league title, although many did not expect it after Jürgen Klopp, who had built the championship-winning team, decided to leave. It was the German who signed Van Dijk.

"There were a lot of changes around us last year, but we won the title. A change of manager is always significant. When we talk about Jürgen Klopp, that applies not only to the players but to the entire club, even the entire city. He had a huge influence, and the change affected everyone. But now we're not talking about failure, but about how we won the title," said Van Dijk.

"How successful we'll be this year depends to a large extent on the performance of the new players. We made sure they know this. They are part of the champions of England and must show a level befitting the champions of England. However, it doesn't just depend on them, but on us as a team. It's everyone else's job to create the right environment for them,” the Dutchman concluded.