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UEFA: Van Dijk challenges Liverpool to seize their moments against Atletico Madrid
09th September, 2026 01:39 PM
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk has issued a rallying cry to his teammates, urging them to make the start of their UEFA Champions League campaign a memorable occasion.
The Reds kick off their European fixtures for the 2026/27 season under the lights at Anfield on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, welcoming Spanish giants Atlético Madrid as the visitors.
The captain noted that the squad can look forward to a positive start after securing their first win of manager Andoni Iraola’s tenure—a convincing 2–0 victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Friday, September 4, 2026.
Positives to pick from
“Against Ipswich last Friday, it was easy to see the positives,” Van Dijk told the club’s official website. “Whether it was the performance of Alex [Isak] with his two goals, Cody [Gakpo] with his two exceptional assists, [Alexis Mac Allister], Ronald [Araújo] coming in for his first Premier League start, or our new signing Bradley Barcola coming off the bench in the second half, there was a lot to like about the way we played and how the evening went for us.”
Liverpool narrowly missed out on Champions League football following a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, finishing fifth behind Aston Villa, Manchester United, Manchester City, and champions Arsenal.
However, Arsenal advancing to the European final earned England an extra place via association performance slots, granting Liverpool a route back into Europe’s elite competition.
Proving belonging
Now, the Dutchman insists the team must prove they belong on the biggest stage against a familiar foe in three-time finalists Atlético Madrid.
“Now we need to show those things—and more—on a consistent basis,” Van Dijk added. “Tonight will be another tough game. We are welcoming a very strong opponent, one we have become pretty familiar with in recent years. Atlético Madrid will always compete, and they will always have quality. We will need to work extremely hard if we want to start with a victory this evening.”
The Dutch defender closed with a direct message to his teammates, setting high expectations for the locker room ahead of kickoff: “As captain, I will demand one thing from everyone: courage. No hiding, no waiting, no excuses. Atlético will make it difficult—they’re experienced, aggressive, and they know how to suffer in big games. But we’re not going into this match thinking about what they can do to us. We want them thinking about us.”
The Reds vs. Atleti clash will kick off at 10:00 pm
