Van Dijk says he always believed Liverpool comeback against Barcelona

Virgil van Dijk insists he did not care that Liverpool were written off before their Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona — because he and his team-mates believed all along. 

Jurgen Klopp’s men produced the greatest night Anfield has ever seen under the lights, coming back from their 3-0 first-leg defeat at the Nou Camp to win 4-0 and secure a place in the final.

It was an outcome that nobody had foreseen before kick-off, former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho saying that he ‘wouldn’t bet one single coin on Liverpool’ before kick off. 

But two goals apiece from Divock Origi and Gini Wijnaldum saw the Reds produce the impossible. Not that Van Dijk ever saw it that way.

‘I don’t care that others didn’t give us a chance,’ he told reporters. ‘I said it straight after the game over there, the result didn’t reflect what was going on on the pitch. But there was a reality that we were 3-0 down.

‘We analysed the game. We had to keep it tight at the back, don’t concede any more. But obviously score goals and we needed a bit of luck as well.

‘We kept pressing, we kept going. Everyone was knackered in the end obviously, but it paid off. It was an outstanding and fantastic win. 

The Reds defender was a rock at the back as Barcelona failed to find an all-important away goal

‘We made sure that we fought for the ball together. It doesn’t matter if you’re a left back or a midfielder or whatever, we tried to put them under pressure and make the options they had limited.

‘Obviously Barca have a fantastic team and you see sometimes they play through it. But we did what not a lot of teams have done against them and put them under pressure and made it very difficult for them. The goals we scored were outstanding.

The win means Liverpool are still alive on both fronts – with Klopp’s men also heading into the final day of the Premier League title race against Manchester City this weekend.   

Liverpool now head to the final in Madrid, at the expense of former star Luis Suarez and Barca 

But while spirits in the Anfield camp are high after Tuesday’s heroics, the Dutch stopper insists this Sunday brings with it a different challenge.  

‘It’s a totally different situation. We know we don’t have it in our hands. We’re going to try to get the three points against Wolves. They’ve been outstanding – one of the revelations this season with a fantastic manager. We have to be ready for a big fight.’

‘We’ll try to get the three points. And if we do that and if City do it then congratulations to them because they have been outstanding as well and if not we’re going to be very happy.’