Liverpool secured their second Premier League win of the season on Sunday, defeating Brentford 2-0 at Anfield. Following the match, Virgil van Dijk reflected on why Leeds United continues to occupy his thoughts.
In his 100th Premier League appearance for Liverpool, van Dijk marked the occasion with a clean sheet and his 82nd victory. His impressive record at Anfield includes 48 clean sheets, 82 wins, 16 draws, and just two losses, with the most recent defeat coming against Crystal Palace during the 2023-24 season.
Van Dijk also recounted the enduring sting of Liverpool’s 2-1 loss to Leeds last season, when Crysencio Summerville scored the decisive goal. He shared with Sky Sports (25/08, 6:44 PM) that the defeat to Leeds remains a painful memory. “Yeah, that’s not bad (his record at Anfield),” van Dijk said, adding, “Oh, yeah. I do actually. Obviously, the Leeds one was a painful one.”
The Leeds team that secured that victory has undergone significant changes. Illan Meslier’s standout performance in goal was crucial for Leeds, while Rasmus Kristensen and Robin Koch have moved to Frankfurt, and Liam Cooper is now a free agent set to join Hull City. Marc Roca is with Real Betis, Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra are at Bournemouth, and Jack Harrison is on loan at Everton. Summerville has transferred to West Ham for £25 million.
The remaining players from that Leeds squad include Brenden Aaronson, who is still with Leeds, and Rodrigo, who now plays for Al-Rayyan. Pascal Struijk, along with Meslier, serves as vice-captain at Leeds.
