Liverpool will close out a turbulent year at Anfield with emotions still close to the surface.
Liverpool will close out a turbulent year at Anfield with emotions still close to the surface. The Premier League title win under Arne Slot should have defined 2025. Instead, the season has also been shaped by loss. The passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva during the summer changed everything around the club. The tragedy came just months after Liverpool lifted the league trophy. It forced players, staff, and supporters to deal with grief while continuing to compete at the highest level. As captain, Virgil van Dijk has carried that weight quietly. With Wolves visiting Anfield, one of Jota’s former clubs, the emotions return again. The fixture brings memories, responsibility, and reflection. It also underlines how deeply Jota remains part of Liverpool’s identity. In those months, football became secondary. The focus shifted to support, presence, and care. Players had to show up for one another in ways that had nothing to do with tactics or training. The club environment also reflected that change. It became about unity and shared responsibility. Liverpool’s captain took on a quiet leadership role. He watched closely. He listened. He made space for others. The aim was not to rush healing but to allow it. The squad leaned on experience. Senior figures stepped up. The club leaned into its values. Only now has Van Dijk spoken in full about how the squad has tried to cope and how the club has rallied around Jota’s family.
Virgil van Dijk explained to The Times how the club responded in the aftermath. “In the months after, you try to be the best version of yourself, being there for the players, for the team, for the staff, but especially for Rute [Jota’s widow]. You want to make sure everyone is looked after — her, the kids, Andre and Diogo’s parents — and the club did an amazing job up until now. But I expected nothing else because the club is an amazing club, a caring club. The most important thing was his family — and it still is.” He also highlighted the wider football community.”The football world in general has been incredible, obviously towards him and Andre, and especially towards the family. Everton have been incredible, in particular Seamus Coleman. It is a fact that you will be reminded about what happened each and every day because he’s part of us, he’s part of the club, he’s part of our brotherhood.” Van Dijk spoke about his personal role within the squad. “Personally, my role was to observe a lot, see how everyone copes and deals with it. To hear things, speak to players, speak to certain staff members. We had a meeting with the team and said if anyone wants to speak up about their emotions, how they feel, we are here and will always be here.” He stressed that the responsibility does not end.” There are moments when it is tough because, like I said, you will remember Diogo whether you are prepared or not, whether you can cope with it at that time or not. It’s about how you then react, and the boys have been outstanding. The senior boys have discussed it and we want to obviously honour his legacy, not only for the next year, two years, three years. He needs to be remembered for ever and that’s something we’re going to discuss with the club, how we’re going to be able to do that.”
Liverpool are already taking visible steps. “We have his locker here at the training ground, we have his locker at the stadium. The memorial at the stadium is coming. But I think we can do a lot more in terms of remembering him, and that’s something me and the senior boys will be looking after. And I feel that responsibility in order to make that happen, too.” Van Dijk also addressed the fans’ tribute. “Obviously, the fans sing Diogo’s song on 20 minutes during games. We’ve discussed that and we’re at a stage now where it doesn’t affect us. It’s obviously a sign of respect from our fans. So it’s up to the fans what will happen, but just to let anyone know that it doesn’t affect us.” For Liverpool, the grief remains. But so does the resolve to carry Jota’s legacy forward.
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