Virgil van Dijk says that solidarity between players and fans this season is the best recipe for Liverpool, because they look at their Premier League crown in the aftermath of a tragic summer.
Supporters and the team continue to mourn for the devastating loss of striker Diogo Jota, who died last month in a car accident in Spain next to his younger brother Andre Silva.
The Portuguese, 28, have received countless heart -warming tribute and another is planned on Friday evening when Liverpool starts their defending defense in Anfield against Bournemouth. But Captain Van Dijk says that the best way to relieve that pain is to stay together.
“It will be a very difficult season, but we are all in here,” said the Dutchman. “As a team, fans, club, it would always be a difficult season with everything that happened to Diogo in the summer, but the only way to overcome it is togetherness and the collective.”
In the season more generally added Van Dijk: 'What we have to do is realize that last season was last season. This season we will start all over again and we have to finish our socks. The Premier League is so difficult, everyone can beat each other at home and away, there are no easy games.
“We also have the Champions League. Game by game it's about taking care of yourself, be fit, be there for the team. That is the main report and the target for everyone. Everyone has to look forward to Friday. '
Van Dijk, 34, completed his first 90-minute preseason in the Community Shield defeat against Crystal Palace on Sunday and think that Liverpool is in good condition, but maybe a few players light on the new season.
Asked if they need a little more signing sessions, he laughed and said, 'I don't know, we will discover it. What I think is that Hugo (Ekitike, who scored) made an impression on and from the ball since he came in, great finish by the way.
'All that happened with Diogo, Tragic … Lucho (Luis Diaz) and Darwin (Nunez) leave. That is three senior attackers. I fully trust the club to do the right thing, what they think is good for the club. '
Asked how the Premier League champions become four days until the big kick-off, Van Dijk said: 'Erm … I think we are in good condition. I know where you want to go with this question, the defensive part of our team. We admitted every game we played, apart from Stoke when there were no fans.
“That is something that we have to improve as a collective. Unlike that it was good to feel the intensity again, to play back in the UK. So many good things today, but I can't lie, I am disappointed to come to Wembley and to lose the last two times.
'If it were that simple, I would have told you immediately (the solution) and we would have solved it. But it's a combination, it's collective. You defend and press like a team. So yes, I don't know how many chances we have given away here … a handful.
'But the fact is that we have admitted every game bar one in this preseason. Something we have to work on. Certainly. We will. I'm not worried at all. There is a reason why we were defensive last year and we can come back to it again. '