Liverpool are preparing for another enormous game this weekend as they face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.

The Reds are well used to these occasions by now, having won the trophy twice since 2022.

Last year, Virgil van Dijk was the hero.



Not only did the Dutchman lift his first trophy as Liverpool captain, he even got the winning goal.

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Given that it eventually became Jurgen Klopp’s final trophy with the Reds, that last-gasp header in extra-time has since taken on extra poignance.

This time, it could be Van Dijk himself who is leaving at the end of the season.

And as his contract situation continues to create as sideshow, the 33-year-old has given an insight into how he is preparing for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Van Dijk always comes across as someone who does not get overly carried away whatever the circumstances.

With Liverpool losing on penalties against PSG and being knocked out of the Champions League in the process, cool heads need to prevail ahead of Sunday’s Wembley showpiece.

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While fans soaked in the disappointment of the defeat, though, Van Dijk says he was taking in his daughter’s school play, along with surprise theatre buddy Wataru Endo.

“In the evening I went to a show at school, because one of my daughters had a play, something called Fantastic Mr Fox,” the Dutchman told The Daily Mail.

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“She was really good, so I was really proud of her.

This morning I did the school run, and now I’m with you guys here.”

“I’m also a normal father, husband and man,” says Van Dijk “I like to do normal things as well as play football.

Obviously some of the kids are looking up, thinking, “What are you doing here?” But the most important thing in life is my kids and my wife.

“But funnily enough, with the play, there were also more kids from our team there.

He did very well.’”

As well as the big news that he took in a school production in between the PSG and Newcastle matches, Van Dijk also yet again touched on his contract situation at Liverpool.

And, according to the Liverpool ECHO, who also carry quotes from the skipper, he could be preparing to become a free agent in the summer, before signing on again with Liverpool.

“Listen, [possibly waiting until the season is over] is definitely the case, so we will see what happens,” Van Dijk says.

“Maybe I will run this [contract] fully down and then there is still no news, I don’t know.

“But I don’t want to create any anxiety or anything like that, I just keep my head down and focus on hopefully winning the next 10 games and that is my full focus: to be there for the manager, the players, the fans.”


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