Liverpool have won four of their last five matches in all competitions and have six points from their first two group phase games in the 2026-27 Champions League with Villarreal visiting Anfield tonight for matchweek three, and Virgil van Dijk says that’s a foundation they’re looking to build on.
“We arrive into this game on the back of two hard-fought wins away to LASK and Brentford, and it is important that we do everything we can to maintain that momentum,” the Liverpool captain noted ahead of Tuesday
night’s kickoff. “Having done a lot of travelling in the last week, our next four games are all at home and we need to use that to our advantage.
“I believe you can see the steps this team is making. We are not perfect, but we are all working extremely hard to become a team that is hard to beat, sticks together, and can compete and get results on a consistent basis. That is what is expected of you when you play for Liverpool and it is up to us to deliver.”
On paper, tonight’s game should be one the host Reds are heavily favoured in, with Villarreal struggling to start the season in La Liga and sitting 12th at the moment with nine points from nine league games.
While they’re mid-table by position, that’s a points tally that means they’re just two points clear of the sides currently in the relegation places—and a full ten points off the pace for the top four and 18 back of current league leaders Barcelona. In Europe, they have three points thanks to a win over Napoli to go with a loss at Dortmund.
They are also a team that seems as though they should be better than their current results, and with expectations a little muted for them playing away at Liverpool under the lights at Anfield it’s a match that has potential upset written all over it if the Reds let the intensity dip and don’t bring a top performance.
“Villarreal will be another big test for us, especially on the back of the work we put in at the weekend,” Van Dijk added. “From the moment the final whistle went at Brentford, our attention turned to this game. Recover and prepare, that’s the way it is when you play for this club and the games come thick and fast.
“We have started our Champions League campaign well, and we want to continue that tonight. Winning is a habit in football, and it is a habit we all want to get into. Hopefully come the end of the match we are all celebrating together once again.”
