Mo Salah claimed £75m Liverpool star will win them Champions League and Premier League this season

Mohamed Salah has never been a man of empty words, and when he speaks about Liverpool Football Club, the whole football world listens carefully. Over the years, the Egyptian King has built a reputation as not only one of the greatest players ever to grace the Anfield turf, but also as a figure who understands the heartbeat of the club and the dreams of the supporters. Now, in the heat of another challenging season where Liverpool are fighting on multiple fronts, Salah has made a bold declaration. He has claimed that Liverpool’s £75 million captain Virgil van Dijk is the man who will carry them to Premier League and Champions League glory again. It is a statement filled with belief, respect, and confidence, and it sends shockwaves across England and Europe because Salah has not just described Van Dijk as a great defender, he has called him the man who can deliver Liverpool’s destiny.

The story of Van Dijk at Liverpool has always been one filled with admiration and greatness. When Liverpool signed him from Southampton in January 2018 for what was then a world-record fee for a defender, eyebrows were raised. Many critics said the club had overpaid. Many doubted that one man could transform a fragile defense that had crumbled so many times in crucial moments. But Van Dijk’s arrival turned out to be the turning point of the Klopp era. He did not just add stability, he brought leadership, calmness, and authority to the backline. From the moment he stepped onto the Anfield pitch, Liverpool looked different, stronger, and more fearless.

Since then, the Dutchman has won everything with the club, lifting the Champions League in 2019, the Premier League in 2020, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, and even personal awards like the PFA Player of the Year. He has been voted one of the best defenders in the world, even finishing second in the Ballon d’Or once behind Lionel Messi. His name has been etched into Liverpool’s history books, and now as captain, he carries an even greater responsibility. And it is this responsibility that Salah believes will push Liverpool to glory once again.

Salah’s words came during a lighthearted TikTok challenge organized by DAZN Football, where Liverpool players picked random teammates from a hat and predicted what they would achieve this season. But while the activity was meant to be fun, Salah’s response was powerful. When he pulled out Van Dijk’s name, he did not hesitate. With a smile, but also with serious belief, Salah said: “Our captain. He will probably lead us to the Champions League and Premier League again.” It was not a sentence of chance. It was a prophecy.

Liverpool this season have had their ups and downs. They lost their last two games, including a painful late defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League and a Champions League loss away at Galatasaray. Critics quickly started asking questions about Arne Slot’s new-look team, about the balance of the midfield, about the frontline that had been reshaped with expensive signings like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. But even with the setbacks, the belief inside the Liverpool camp has not faded. Slot’s men are still pushing hard across four competitions, with the Premier League and Champions League being their biggest goals. The players know the standards expected, and Salah’s statement reminded the world that Liverpool are not done, not by a long shot.

For Salah, Van Dijk is not just a teammate. He is a warrior, a leader, and someone who represents what Liverpool stands for. When Jordan Henderson left Anfield in the summer of 2023, many wondered who could replace him as captain. Henderson was not only the voice of the dressing room but also the soul of the team. But Van Dijk stepped into the role naturally. He had already been a leader on the pitch for years, organizing the defense, demanding focus, and showing strength in the biggest moments. Since becoming captain, he has lifted the Premier League trophy once again and added the Carabao Cup. But Salah is saying that is not enough. For Salah, Van Dijk is destined to bring more.

The fans too understand what Van Dijk means. They remember how shaky the defense looked before he came, how rival strikers used to slice through Liverpool’s backline with ease. They remember how much pain it caused to watch the team fall short, like in Kiev in 2018 when Real Madrid defeated them in the Champions League final. And they remember the transformation after Van Dijk joined, how suddenly Liverpool went from nearly men to serial winners. Salah’s claim, therefore, is not far-fetched. For many supporters, it feels right.

Peter Crouch, the former Liverpool striker and cult hero, also shares the same belief. Months earlier, Crouch had spoken about Salah and Van Dijk during an interview with TNT Sports. He praised Salah for his goal-scoring heroics and his status as a living legend at the club. He reminded fans how important it was for Liverpool to keep Salah, saying the club had to invest heavily to keep him but that it was the right decision. Salah, he said, still looked sharp and could continue for at least two more years at the highest level. But when Crouch turned to Van Dijk, his words were even more striking. He said Van Dijk might just be Liverpool’s greatest ever centre-back.

That is not a small statement. Liverpool’s history is filled with legendary defenders. From the likes of Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson in the 1980s, who guided Liverpool to multiple league titles, to Sami Hyypia, a rock at the back during the 2000s, and Jamie Carragher, the heart of the team for more than a decade. To put Van Dijk above them is to place him at the very peak of Liverpool’s defensive history. But for Crouch, who has seen Van Dijk dominate opponents, marshal defenses, and lead by example, the conclusion is clear: Van Dijk is number one.

This season will test that claim more than ever. Arne Slot has built a squad filled with attacking talent and midfield creativity, but the defense still looks to Van Dijk as the anchor. Without him, Liverpool often look vulnerable. With him, they look unbreakable. His presence gives confidence not just to the defenders around him but also to the goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, and the midfielders ahead of him. When Van Dijk plays well, the entire team plays with more freedom. That is why Salah believes his captain will lead them to glory.

Football, however, is unpredictable. Liverpool know this more than most. Injuries, bad luck, refereeing mistakes, and tough opponents can derail even the best teams. Already this season, Liverpool have felt some of that pain with back-to-back defeats. But Liverpool’s story has always been about resilience. From the miracle of Istanbul in 2005 to the comeback against Barcelona in 2019, the club has built its identity around fighting back when people least expect it. With Van Dijk wearing the captain’s armband and Salah leading the line, they believe another great chapter is possible.

Salah’s admiration for Van Dijk also shows something else. It shows unity in the squad. In modern football, where egos often clash and dressing rooms can break apart, Liverpool’s success has always come from togetherness. Salah could easily have spoken about himself, about his goals, about his role in the team. But instead, he pointed to Van Dijk, giving credit to another leader. That is the kind of respect that makes a team strong. It is the kind of mentality that wins titles.

The season is long, and the challenges are huge. Arsenal are pushing hard, Manchester City are always dangerous, and in Europe, giants like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain are waiting. But Salah’s message is clear: Liverpool have what it takes. They have their captain, their rock, their colossus, and with Van Dijk at the heart of it all, the dream of winning both the Premier League and the Champions League is alive.

For Van Dijk, this season might be one of his most important. At 34, he knows time is not on his side forever. The Dutchman has already battled a serious knee injury in 2020 that threatened his career, but he came back stronger. Every time he steps onto the pitch now, he knows it could be his last chance at adding another piece of silverware. That hunger, combined with the trust of his teammates and the love of the fans, could be the driving force that takes Liverpool to the top again.

The story of Liverpool under Arne Slot is still being written. It is a story of transition after Jurgen Klopp, a story of blending new stars like Isak and Wirtz with established legends like Salah and Van Dijk. It is a story of belief, of challenges, of setbacks and comebacks. And at the heart of it, as Salah has declared, stands Virgil van Dijk, the £75 million man who could lead them to glory once more.

Liverpool’s enemies will scoff at Salah’s prophecy. They will point to the defeats, to the vulnerabilities, to the fact that football does not always reward belief with trophies. But those who know Liverpool know better. This is a club built on hope, built on dreams, built on moments that defy logic. And in the weeks and months to come, as Van Dijk leads his team out under the Anfield lights or into hostile European stadiums, the fans will remember Salah’s words. They will believe, because belief is what Liverpool does best