Van Dijk: We wanted to show why we are champions

Virgil Van Dijk has praised his teammates for their ability to stay focused despite wrapping up the title in comprehensive fashion.

The Reds finished their stellar season in style on the final day of the season defeating Newcastle 3-1 at St James Park on Sunday.

After falling behind to a Dwight Gayle strike barely a minute after kickoff, it would have been completely understandable for the champions to go through the motions and head off for their break knowing the hard work had been well and truly done.

However, that is not the way that this Liverpool team has been built or operates and the Dutchman who set the team in the road to victory with his fifth league goal of the season told BT Sport (via the Official site) that he not in any doubt how the team would respond.

“We all wanted to play today, we all want to show why we are the champions, we wanted to win the game. We knew it was going to be tough and I think we made it even more difficult for ourselves [after] I don’t know how many seconds! 

“But we played well, second half was outstanding I think, and it’s good to finish off the season on a high and now we have a little break.

While Liverpool as a team has made and broken records aplenty over the last two seasons, one incredible statistic was that the talismanic Dutchman played every minute of the Reds title winning season, only the fifth outfield player in the Premier League era to do so after Garry Pallister (1992/93), John Terry( 2014/15), Wes Morgan (15/16) and Cesar Azpilicueta (16/17).

It is another sign of the true dedication and professionalism of the elite defender and something that he takes to heart.

“I’m very proud for that and I won’t take that for granted. It’s never easy to keep yourself fit, you have to also be a bit lucky and obviously I try to look after myself in the best way possible. It’s an incredible feeling and I think it’s the second season in a row that I’ve been playing 38 games so I’m proud of that and hopefully I can keep that going.

In a season of ultimate highlights, Van Dijk did not want to pinpoint one thing in particular.

“I think the personal highlight is winning the Premier League!

"It’s been a big dream of mine coming through and I think for all of us, for this beautiful club, it’s outstanding and it should spur us on to try even harder to retain the title.

As for defending the title, Virgil knows it is going to be a significant challenge, but he is more than ready for it.

“If I’m talking personally I don’t think I need any more motivation.

“It’s going to be very tough, teams are going to improve, they’ll want to beat us even more. 

"But we will focus on each game at a time, that’s what we did already this season, and hopefully we can be as consistent as we have this season. It’s going to be a new challenge but we should all look forward to it as well."