Having experienced both highs and lows, Van Dijk said Liverpool will always remember Jota.

Liverpool will host Wolverhampton Wanderers in a key match of the 18th round of the 2025/26 Premier League season. Virgil van Dijk stated that the team has experienced many exciting moments and incredibly painful events this year, but he still hopes the team can leave 2025 strong.

In the 2024/25 season, Liverpool, under new manager Sloot, fought their way to the Premier League title. However, tragically, Liverpool striker Jota and his brother lost their lives in a car accident.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said, "I want to start by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. It's certainly a very special time of year, and I hope everyone enjoys it however they like. We were able to rest on Christmas Day due to the schedule. I think this is the first time this has happened since I came to England, and it's wonderful to be able to spend the day with family and truly enjoy the festivities."

"This will be our last game in 2025, and looking back on this year, everyone in the club has experienced a range of emotions. We've had some incredible highlights, and in April, we became the Premier League champions—that feeling was unparalleled. The image of lifting the trophy in front of everyone at Anfield is a memory I'll never forget. It was the result of the team's collective effort and a well-deserved reward for all the hard work on and off the pitch throughout the season."

"However, what followed was the most heartbreaking low. In July, the passing of Jota and his brother Andre Silva was something none of us could have predicted, and it is a fact that we are all still struggling to accept. Our thoughts are always with Jota and Andre's family. They will never be forgotten, and we will always remember them."

Van Dijk also stated, "From a footballing perspective, this season has been a mixed bag. There have been many changes in the squad, with players leaving and new signings joining. It's fair to say that we haven't shown our true best in terms of consistency. However, we have still played some great games and achieved some memorable victories, but the whole process has also been challenging and difficult. As captain, I, like anyone else, have truly felt those difficult moments."

“Our focus is entirely on the game against Wolves right now, and we hope to build on some recent positive results and finish the year in high spirits in front of Anfield and the fans. I know many people will be watching this game, and seeing where they are in the standings, it’s natural to expect us to win. But we know very well that it will be an extremely difficult game, and our opponents will be very motivated.”

Furthermore, thanks to goals from Isak and Ekittiq, Liverpool defeated Tottenham 2-1 in the last round of the league and are now in 6th place in the standings with 29 points.

Van Dijk continued, "Last weekend we beat Tottenham away from home, which was an important victory, but even with the win, we must admit that there are still obvious areas where the team needs to improve in terms of performance."

“We are all looking forward to the next game, and I know we can continue to rely on everyone’s support, so let’s end the year in high spirits.”