Virgil van Dijk Commends ‘World-Class’ PSG: ‘We Aim for a Different Style of Play’

Virgil van Dijk is convinced that Liverpool’s challenges in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain are far from resolved, even after they managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory in the first leg of their last-16 clash in Paris.

The Reds faced tremendous pressure throughout much of the match at Parc des Princes on Wednesday, but held firm, largely due to what goalkeeper Alisson Becker described as the “performance of his life.”

Harvey Elliott struck the decisive goal just moments after coming on, finding the net with his very first touch in the 87th minute. Liverpool managed only two shots on goal, while PSG unleashed a staggering 27 attempts.

This marked the first defeat for the Parisian side in 23 matches, a streak that had been ongoing since November.

As Liverpool prepares for the return leg at Anfield on Tuesday, Van Dijk cautioned that the aggregate tie is still very much alive.

“It should be an exciting game, and we need to be ready to endure, as they are a quality team who have gone a long time unbeaten,” the Liverpool captain stated.

“What impressed me most was our unity; everyone put in a solid effort and we recognise that we can all improve.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted that his side was fortunate to emerge with even a draw from this encounter.

Van Dijk acknowledged that the gritty performance was not the typical approach for the Premier League leaders, but he praised the “world-class” calibre of their opponents.

“We prefer not to play in this manner, as any footballer wants to have control of the game and dominate their opponents,” he remarked.

“However, we faced a team with immense quality, world-class talent, and they’re challenging for everyone this season. They made it hard for us, but we managed to find a way forward, and now we have to finish the job next week.”

Slot’s substitutes proved pivotal, with Darwin Nunez assisting Elliott’s goal, while Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo played vital roles in containing the PSG attack.

“As we move into the latter stages of the season, the message is clear: everyone in the squad must contribute when called upon,” Van Dijk emphasised.

“With the goal, you can see Darwin pressing Marquinhos, the ball falls to him, and he delivers a great pass to Harvey for the finish.

“It’s fantastic to see contributions from Wataru and Curtis as well. Everyone needs to feel their significance, especially with so many crucial matches on the horizon. We need to keep pushing forward.”

Liverpool has the opportunity to extend their 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League when bottom-placed Southampton pays a visit to Anfield on Saturday.