Can Carabao Cup Glory Elevates Van Dijk To Liverpool’s All-Time Greatest Captains?

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool stated that winning a second League Cup trophy against Newcastle would solidify his status among the great captains in the Premier League club’s history.

The Dutch defender scored the winner in the 118th minute against Chelsea at Wembley last year, securing his first trophy as skipper.

The 33-year-old took over the captaincy from Jordan Henderson in 2023 under Jurgen Klopp and has kept the armband with the arrival of new manager Arne Slot.

“If you were to lift the two trophies, I think you have a pretty good chance to be on a nice list of captains that have achieved great things in this club,” Van Dijk told British media ahead of the final against Newcastle.

“That’s obviously a big dream of mine since I became the captain of the club. We’re not there, we have a lot of hard work still to do.

Van Dijk’s contract expires in June but he says he has not been fazed by the uncertainty over an extension.

“I feel I am in one of the best shapes in my career and you have been seeing that,” he said.

“I enjoy playing, I enjoy leading the boys out, I enjoy being there for each and every one of them and I enjoy the responsibility more than ever, maybe because I am getting older slowly. So let’s wait and see.”