Van Dijk learned his leadership role from Henderson: 'The ultimate example'

Virgil van Dijk framed the buildup to Liverpool vs Manchester United in terms of identity and stewardship.

As captain, he sees himself as the guardian of Liverpool’s culture and says that outlook was shaped by watching Jordan Henderson at close range. He describes the club’s standards as the bedrock of everything that happens on the pitch and emphasizes that hard work, unity and the bond with supporters are the elements that turn a talented group into a team that can withstand the pressure of fixtures like this one.

In the hours leading up to kickoff at Anfield, Van Dijk spoke to Liverpool Echo and set out a simple idea. Culture comes first. Values and standards define the daily routine, from training intensity to how players interact with staff and fans. Success, in his view, grows from that consistent framework. He notes that Liverpool’s global fanbase contributes to performance in a real way, not only by creating atmosphere on matchdays but also by reinforcing what the club represents. He believes that when players step out in front of the Kop, they are reminded that they carry something larger than themselves.

Van Dijk points to Henderson as the template he followed from his first day at Melwood and then Kirkby. He recalls that Henderson demonstrated what leadership looks like in small, repeatable actions. Arriving early, setting the tone in rondos, encouraging younger players when they miss a touch, holding teammates accountable when standards slip, and facing the media in difficult moments. For Van Dijk, those behaviors mattered more than any speech. When he inherited the armband, his aim was not reinvention but continuity. He wanted to protect the same values he had seen in action and pass them on to the next wave.

He also stresses that continuity must outlast individuals. One day he will move on, and he wants the leadership chain to remain unbroken. He calls Liverpool a club of the people and argues that its size and expectations bring permanent scrutiny. The goal is to challenge for the title every year, something that is naturally difficult in a league where margins are thin and opponents are well resourced. The way to meet that challenge, he says, is to do things the Liverpool way. That means clarity in game model, humility in effort, and respect for the club’s history in moments of pressure.

The rivalry with Manchester United provides a live test of these ideas. Matches between the sides are often decided by control of transitions, the ability to defend the width of the pitch, and the willingness of leaders to make calm choices when adrenaline is at its highest. Van Dijk’s presence is central in these scenarios. He organizes the back line, manages distances between defense and midfield, and communicates constantly to maintain compactness. On set pieces he is both a primary threat and the traffic controller who assigns matchups and second ball responsibilities. In open play he decides when to hold the line and when to drop, and his first pass after a regain often determines whether Liverpool can turn defense into attack in two or three touches.

Beyond the emotional charge of the occasion, there is a practical dimension that Van Dijk is keen to highlight. The squad underwent major changes in the summer. Important players departed, and Liverpool invested to refresh key positions. He praises the club for executing a difficult plan in a demanding market and believes the replacements are of high quality. He notes that adaptation takes time. Integrating new starters and building automatic partnerships is a process that plays out in the first months of a season, not in a week. He argues that patience, without lowering standards, is the correct posture. In his view, the upside is significant once those relationships settle.

This perspective informs how Liverpool approach big games. Van Dijk talks about the need to balance aggression and control. The team wants to press high and play front foot football, but it must also keep a stable rest defense to protect against counterattacks. He often cues the line to hold a touch deeper when both full backs advance, ensuring that the first ball out of pressure is not behind his shoulder. He stresses clean communication with the holding midfielder, who screens passes into the opposing number 10 and provides the first layer of protection if a counter begins.

On the human side, Van Dijk describes leadership as service. He tries to set a tone that makes it easier for teammates to perform. For younger players, that can mean small bits of feedback in training, walking them through an opponent’s pressing trap, or reminding them to take the simple option when the stadium is loud. For senior teammates, it can mean collaboration, not hierarchy, and a willingness to listen when others see something different on the pitch. He believes that shared ownership strengthens the group during adversity, particularly in match states where the team is trailing or defending a narrow lead.

The captain’s own journey at Liverpool provides context for this outlook. Since arriving on 1 January 2018, he has made 329 official appearances and anchored a cycle that delivered major silverware. He is mindful that cycles evolve. The challenge now is to knit together the next version of a Liverpool side that can win at the highest level. He frames the work as daily and unglamorous. Repetition on the training ground, trust in structure, and a refusal to cut corners when fatigue sets in. He says that those habits turn into resilience during the late minutes of tight games.

As Anfield fills for Liverpool vs Manchester United at 17:30, the storyline is bigger than a single ninety minutes but is also clarified by it. Rivalry games compress long term ideas into immediate tests. Can Liverpool control transitions while sustaining attacking pressure. Can the spine handle United’s surges without losing spacing. Can the team lean on its culture when the game becomes chaotic. Van Dijk believes the answers come from the same place he has emphasized all week. Values first, standards every day, and a direct connection to supporters who expect not only wins but a certain way of winning.

He closes his remarks by circling back to responsibility. He sees himself as part of a line that runs through Henderson and further back to captains who defined different eras. His task is to keep the chain intact, help new players understand what the shirt asks of them, and ensure that Liverpool meet big moments with clarity rather than noise. In that sense, the match against Manchester United is both a chapter and a mirror. It reflects where the team is in its development and offers an immediate chance to show how culture turns into performance.