Virgil van Dijk spoke to reporters after Liverpool's disappointing Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain
Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool salutes the supporters following the penalty shootout of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Anfield
Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool salutes the supporters following the penalty shootout of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Anfield(Image: 2025 Jean Catuffe)
It will not be lost on Liverpool supporters that, as things stand, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah have played their final Champions League games for the club. With little over two months of the season remaining, the trio remain out-of-contract in the summer as the uncertainty regarding their futures continues.
The Reds suffered a disappointing Champions League round-of-16 exit to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, losing on penalties at Anfield after a 1-1 aggregate draw.
It was little reward for Arne Slot’s men, facing one of the strongest sides left in the tournament, having topped the inaugural league phase.
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Van Dijk was spotted talking to PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi and sporting director Luis Campos outside the Anfield dressing room following the defeat, with such an exchange only fuelling speculation about his future further.
Yet it is inconceivable that the Liverpool captain would ever disrespect his club like that, on their own doorstop no less, especially moments after such a deflating defeat. He has repeatedly declared his dedication and passion for the Reds throughout this season alone, never mind the rest of his seven-year Anfield career.
And let's not forget, he also took part in a half-time exchange with Campos in the PSG tunnel last week with there no mystery regarding the topic of conversation on such an occasion.
“I am fully committed to the club. I love the fans, I love the club. I’ve had such an amazing time already,” he told Jamie Redknapp in an interview for Sky Sports last month before revealing he expected a resolution within a couple of months.
Speaking after the loss to PSG, Van Dijk conceded he remains unaware whether he will play in the Champions League for Liverpool. But he insisted talks are ongoing while admitting that his future remains up in the air.
“I have no idea. I still have no idea at the moment,” he replied when asked by reporters if he will have another crack at the Champions League next season with Liverpool. “Genuinely. I have no idea at the moment.
“It (talks) is not on hold. Nothing on hold. There’s just… I keep saying the same thing. Listen, there are 10 games to go and that is my full focus.
“If there is news you guys will know it. I don’t even know myself. Everyone knows there are some conversations behind the scenes but that is about it.
“At the moment I don’t even know what will happen next year. If anyone says they do know, they are lying to your face.”
Liverpool’s Champions League exit on penalties was a bitter pill to swallow for the Reds, especially given the fact that they produced a much better performance than in their first leg victory in Paris.
“Yeah, (it’s tough to take). Penalties are a lottery,” Van Dijk said. “I just want to congratulate PSG and wish them all the best.
“We tried everything in our power to go through, especially in regular time. We put ourselves in a very good position last week winning there 1-0 when our performance wasn't as good.
“Our performance today was miles better. In the beginning phase we created a lot of opportunities. But we couldn’t capitalise and they obviously scored their goal.
“They controlled the extra time period pretty well in my opinion so it is not only down to us. They kept the ball, switched it from side to side and let us run.
“They did it well and if you look at the regular time game, we did pretty well. Yeah, that was the game. Penalties unfortunately decided our fate.
“Certainly we showed a different Liverpool [to the first leg] - that wasn't too difficult to be absolutely honest with you. And they felt the pressure we created. But we are out of the Champions League and that is the reality.
“You always have to learn from difficult moments. That's life for every human being and footballers as well.
“There were good things today and things that we maybe could have done better but overall I'm very proud of the performance that we put in today.
“It was a great game to watch as a neutral I think. It was a great game to be a part of - very intense and a lot of running for both sides, especially in regular time. But they are going through and we aren't. That's the reality.”
Slot’s squad at least have the perfect opportunity to bounce back quickly in Sunday’s League Cup final against Newcastle United, while they remain on track to win the Premier League title despite their continental disappointment.
However, their loss to PSG came at a further cost, having lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to an ankle injury while also coming through a gruelling 120 minutes.
Van Dijk acknowledged fatigue might have played a part against PSG, but insisted Liverpool’s Champions League exit won’t offer any further motivation for the Reds as they look to finish the season on a high.
“Yeah, (fatigue kicked in) but we made changes,” he said. “Maybe we looked a bit disjointed at times in the end.
“Everyone who is on the bench or not starting has to try and make an impact. I have not even spoken to Trent as I have not seen him yet. I have no idea what it is.
“Hopefully it is something minor but if not, if Jarell will play right-back then he has to do it in the best way possible. He showed today and he showed already in the last couple of weeks that he can do it.
“We don’t need any added motivation. We have 10 more games. We can win the Premier League and we can win the Carabao Cup this Sunday, so if you need any extra motivation then you are in the wrong business.
“Right now it is bitter disappointment in our heads because we are out of the competition but I am really looking forward [to the Carabao Cup final].
“All of the fans want to celebrate (winning) it. That is normal, human. But it will be difficult. We need our fans to be there with us and I have no doubts they will be there as well.
“Any final is difficult. Recover and be fully focused on Sunday. That is our job, we need our fans to be there for us.
“We have two big prizes we can still get so we have to give it everything, feel the disappointment tonight, and from tomorrow we start the recovery.
“If we bring this intensity with our fans in Wembley on Sunday then I'm positive. I am always positive. But I am really looking forward to being back out there.
“We have 10 games to go now and we are going to give it everything. Hopefully we have something very nice to celebrate at the end.”