Virgil van Dijk on Champions League evenings: “We missed this competition”

Champions League nights under the lights at Anfield are one of Liverpool Football Club’s most iconic aspects and most cherished by fans. After a year without competition, Bologna will host the first Anfield Night of the 2024-25 season on Wednesday.

“We definitely missed this competition last season,” club captain Virgil van Dijk said in his pre-match notes. “The Europa League was good for us and of course we were disappointed that we didn’t make it, but there is just something special about the Champions League.

“It’s the competition that everyone wants to take part in and of course I don’t have to tell you about the incredible history of this club. Nights like these have created some of the best memories of my career, but that only makes me hungrier to do more.”

The redesigned league phase of the Champions League means at least two more league phase games in early 2025, and it is not yet clear what it will take to finish in the top division of the current round of play, get a bye and avoid two additional games in the Knockout round.

However, three points in the opening game against AC Milan was a good start, and after Bologna the Reds play RB Leipzig on October 23rd, host Leverkusen on November 5th and Real Madrid on the 27th, travel to Girona on December 10th on January 21st Lille and finish the game at PSV on January 29th.