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And the Reds skipper believes lifting the first piece of silverware under Arne Slot on Sunday is vital for what is a new regime at Anfield.

The Reds won their 10th League Cup 13 months ago when Van Dijk headed home in extra time against Chelsea to make light of an injury crisis that stood at 11 first-team players before kick off.

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In contrast, the Magpies last domestic piece of silver came via the 1955 FA Cup and it's been 56 years since a trophy of any kind, which was the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which preceded what is now known as the Europa League.



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Liverpool have lifted 43 trophies since Newcastle's most recent triumph but Van Dijk rejects claims that the disparity means Eddie Howe's men will want it more on the day, with the Reds skipper highlighting the game's wider importance to what is a new era under Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes.

“It's a final, and I think both teams want to win very much," Van Dijk says.

"I think on their side I think they didn't win a trophy for [70 years] so there's a lot of motivation there.

"We obviously want to win so badly as well, because we worked so hard to get where we are and obviously it's the first season together with the new regime and we want to show that we can win trophies with this whole regime and how everything is going.

"It's the only game ahead of us so we're going in to try and beat them and we know it's going to be difficult, but we have to be ready for it."

Liverpool may be given additional motivation from the manner of their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, with the Reds losing on penalties after a 1-0 defeat in the second leg evened out the victory in the French capital from the previous week.

Defeat for the Premier League leaders at Wembley, so soon after elimination from Europe, will inevitably increase the scrutiny on Slot's squad, despite their healthy lead at the top of the table, which stands at 15 points heading into Sunday's fixtures.

Van Dijk adds: “The thing is you can't control what anyone says.

I think someone told me as well that people are saying that we're only going just for the league or something, that's what I've heard.

"These things, you can't stop it.

You just have to shut down a little bit, focus on the task ahead as a team and try to win.

"So far we've been doing great so I think just keep going.

Sunday is another big opportunity because it's an opportunity, but it will be difficult because they will be up for it but we will be up for it as well."

Van Dijk also shrugged off Wayne Rooney's criticism on Sky Sports' Stick to Football podcast on Thursday that labelled his defending "lazy" for PSG's goal on Tuesday night.

“Someone told me about this," Van Dijk said.

But listen, I think I said it to someone as well, there were so many challenges that were years ago for those players and obviously it's a challenge for the players nowadays that you have to deal with opinions here and there and it gets blown up all the time.

"But I think, looking at what I see in the dressing room, I think the boys are doing well in terms of keeping their heads down and focusing on the task ahead.
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