Van Dijk approached the Amazon Prime team pitch and greeted all the experts, including Rooney, before standing next to the former England striker.
The interview began with presenter Gabby Logan asking Van Dijk to review the win before Logan addressed the poor run the Reds had been through and how important a team meeting after the 2–1 defeat to Manchester United on 19 October had been in improving form.
Van Dyk: “It’s easy to say now that we won twice in a row that that helped a lot, but in a world of chaos you have to try to stay calm and put things in perspective. In that meeting it was October, there was a lot of football to be played, so many comings and goings that can happen and I think at times it was a lot of noise (he said with a small smile on his face).”
Logan: “Are you looking at anyone around here in particular?”
Van Dyk: “No, no, not all, but listen, I think it’s very important to put things in perspective, keep your head down and work and get out of the situation because the quality that we have, that’s not the problem. It’s about keeping working and moving forward.”
Robbie Fowler: “Are you affected by outside noise or are you just happy trudging along, doing what you have to do and trying to correct people?”
Van Dyk: “I think you all know that you are dealing with a team of 25 players, a lot of young players and a couple of older players like me and they all live a different life. I can say that it doesn’t affect me personally, but as captain I am dealing with players who may be affected by that.”
Logan: “Do you think some of the criticism has been fair?”
Van Dyk: “Of course, if you lose four or five games in a row as a Liverpool player, then it’s a fair criticism, it’s absolutely normal in that sense. But I think sometimes it’s also exaggerated at the time, but that’s because we live in a world with so many platforms and so many people can say things, which will be picked up and made bigger. I think it’s good that former players who played at the highest level and who dealt with difficult times also put a lot into perspective (he said with a smile. Rooney laughs).”
Rooney: “I’m not saying anything else because I think I stimulated them and put them on a winning streak!
“I think what I said was just when you win the Premier League and then you go on a streak where you lose three or four games in a row, something you don’t expect from Liverpool in recent years.
“As Virgil is the captain, I think it’s your chance to go and lead the players and that’s what I was saying. That happens in football and I think the response has been excellent from Virgil and the team.”
Van Dyk: “I think if you watched the games then I would definitely take responsibility. I think the comment that I signed my new contract and then it was like ‘that’s it’ and I let it go, I think it was a bit… but that’s my personal opinion and we move on.”
Once the interview was over, Van Dijk hugged Rooney and the rest of the Amazon Prime team before leaving the set.