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Van Dijk Desperate to Give Klopp Fitting Finale at Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk (left) is hoping to give Jurgen Klopp (right) the perfect send off as Liverpool manager - AFP
Virgil van Dijk (left) is hoping to give Jurgen Klopp (right) the perfect send off as Liverpool manager - AFP
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Van Dijk Desperate to Give Klopp Fitting Finale at Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk (left) is hoping to give Jurgen Klopp (right) the perfect send off as Liverpool manager - AFP
Virgil van Dijk (left) is hoping to give Jurgen Klopp (right) the perfect send off as Liverpool manager - AFP

Virgil van Dijk said the news of Jurgen Klopp's departure from Liverpool at the end of the season was "hard to take", but the Reds' captain is hoping to send his manager out on a high.

Liverpool are five points clear at the top of the Premier League and in the running for three more trophies in the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League.

Klopp announced his shock decision to step down on Friday, explaining that he no longer has the energy to keep going after nearly nine years in charge at Anfield.

"It's a hard one to take, because the manager means so much for us, to me, to the club, to the whole Premier League I think," said Van Dijk, who was brought to Liverpool by Klopp for a then world record £75 million fee for a defender in 2018.

"But he made the decision for him and his family. It was always going to be a tough one and it was definitely the case."

Liverpool host Norwich in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday at what is sure to be an emotionally-charged Anfield in the first match since the news broke, AFP reported.

Klopp's men this week also reached the League Cup final, where they will face Chelsea next month, and are the favorites for the Europa League having already qualified for the last 16.

"We have a lot of targets still to achieve this year and why not finish the season on a high and together with celebrations for the boss as well?" Van Dijk said.

"Let's make the rest of the season a special one so he can have the farewell that he definitely deserves."

Liverpool are keen to avoid the fate suffered by Manchester United in 2001/02 when the Red Devils struggled after Alex Ferguson announced his intention to retire, only for the Scot to later change his mind and stay on at Old Trafford for another decade.

Klopp insisted there will be no change of heart on his decision and Van Dijk believes it could give his players extra motivation in what remains of the campaign

"It will maybe even give you an extra boost to do that extra (bit) or maybe enjoy it a little bit even more together," added the Dutchman.

"And make the last part of the season, the last bit of the manager's time at the club, the best time he's ever had. That's what we strive for and that's why it's business as usual."

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Arsenal, Man City and Bayern Advance to Women's Champions League Quarterfinals

Arsenal celebrate after scoring the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League soccer match between Arsenal Women and Juventus Women at the Emirates Stadium in London, Britain, 21 November 2024. EPA/NEIL HALL
Arsenal celebrate after scoring the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League soccer match between Arsenal Women and Juventus Women at the Emirates Stadium in London, Britain, 21 November 2024. EPA/NEIL HALL
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Arsenal, Man City and Bayern Advance to Women's Champions League Quarterfinals

Arsenal celebrate after scoring the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League soccer match between Arsenal Women and Juventus Women at the Emirates Stadium in London, Britain, 21 November 2024. EPA/NEIL HALL
Arsenal celebrate after scoring the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League soccer match between Arsenal Women and Juventus Women at the Emirates Stadium in London, Britain, 21 November 2024. EPA/NEIL HALL

Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich all advanced to the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals with with two games to spare on Thursday, The Associated Press reported.
Late substitute Lina Hurtig scored the winner in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Juventus in London.
Khadija Shaw scored twice for City in a 2-1 win at Swedish club Hammarby. City stayed perfect in Group D with four victories and reached the last eight for the first time since 2021.
Bayern Munich was held 1-1 at Vålerenga in Norway and still earned a quarterfinal berth after Juventus' loss.
Arsenal, Bayern and City join Chelsea, Lyon and Real Madrid in the quarterfinals.
Two-time defending champion Barcelona routed Austrian champion St. Pölten 4-1. The Catalan club trails City by three points in their group and is in a strong position to advance.
Bayern tops Group C with 10 points, Arsenal has nine followed by Juventus (3) and Vålerenga (1).
Back to winning Man City responded to its first loss of the season, 2-0 at Chelsea in the Women's Super League on Saturday.
Still without injured star Vivianne Miedema, Shaw took charge, proving her scoring instincts after half an hour.
The forward scored from inside the penalty area with a deflected shot that flew over goalkeeper Anna Tamminen to frustrate more than 20,000 noisy fans at the Stockholm Arena in the Swedish capital.
Ellen Wangerheim equalized soon after the interval from close range to rejuvenate the crowd but Shaw struck again to restore the lead just minutes later.
This time, she delivered a powerful right-footed finish from the edge of the area.
Bayern and Harder contained Bayern dominated possession but could not translate it into goals until the 75th minute. It had to rely on substitute Jovana Damnjanović, who gave the visitors a late lead after connecting on a pass from Giulia Gwinn.
The Norwegians, who have retained their domestic title, equalized in the 88th on Elise Thorsnes' header following a corner.
Pernille Harder, who found the back of the net five times for Bayern in the previous three games, could not do it again on Thursday and was substituted.
Hurtig's night Hurtig came on with 10 minutes remaining and made her presence immediately felt with several headers.
She finally made the breakthrough with a minute remaining in regulation, tapping in from close range after Juventus’ poor clearance of a low cross by Stina Blackstenius.
Hurtig won the Italian title with Juventus in 2021 and 2022 before joining the Gunners.
Juventus seemed to learn a lesson from its 4-0 loss to Arsenal last week as its defense held firm till Hurtig’s arrival.
Putellas scores her 200th Barcelona goal In an 11-minute span in the first half, Francisca Nazareth netted twice and 18-year-old Vicky Lopez scored once to put Barcelona in control.
Nazareth's double was followed by Lopez hitting the third with a shot high into the net for her first Champions League goal.
Alexia Putellas made it 4-0 in the second half, finishing a fast attack that tore apart the defense in Vienna. It was her 200th goal for Barcelona and the 100th the club scored in the Champions League’s group stage.
Valentina Mädl, an 18-year-old forward, netted a consolation goal for the hosts.
Barcelona has scored 20 goals in its past three games and can still become the first club to win its group in all four years since the introduction of the format.