Van Dijk Fires Back at Michael Owen Over Liverpool’s Season Narrative

A Heated Debate on Liverpool’s Season Goals

After Liverpool’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton, a heated discussion unfolded on live TV between Virgil van Dijk and former Reds striker Michael Owen. While Owen suggested that Liverpool’s season, despite potentially winning the Premier League, had a lingering sense of disappointment due to early exits in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and Champions League, Van Dijk strongly disagreed, emphasizing that the team was still chasing the most significant prize in English football.

Liverpool’s Title Ambitions vs. Missed Opportunities

Liverpool started 2024 with dreams of an unprecedented quadruple, competing on all four major fronts. However, their ambitions took a hit with a shock FA Cup exit to Plymouth Argyle, a Champions League elimination against Paris Saint-Germain, and a Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle United.

These setbacks led Owen to claim that while winning the league would be a fantastic achievement, the season had promised something even more extraordinary. Speaking on Premier League Productions, he said:

“Liverpool were poised to have a phenomenal season. If they win the Premier League, it’ll still be fantastic, but with a little bit of a bitter taste because it was building into something special.”

Owen added that fans might need time to appreciate the scale of winning the league, but the recent disappointments had left a mark on the overall perception of the season.

Van Dijk’s Strong Response: “Change the Narrative”

Van Dijk, who has been Liverpool’s leader both on and off the pitch, wasn’t having it. The Dutch captain quickly challenged Owen’s stance, questioning the notion that Liverpool’s campaign was no longer “special.”

“So you’re suggesting the season is not going to be special anymore?” Van Dijk fired back.

Owen tried to clarify, saying that while winning the Premier League would still be a remarkable feat, he had initially believed it could turn into an all-time great season.

Van Dijk remained firm, urging a shift in perspective:

“We have to change that narrative a little bit. We’re fighting for the biggest prize of the season. We worked so hard for it. Twenty teams are working so hard to be on top of the Premier League. We have eight games to go. We know what’s at stake. We have to go for it, we have to fight, we have to enjoy the whole ride. And let’s see.”

The Dutch defender also reminded everyone that Liverpool weren’t even expected to be in contention for multiple trophies this season:

“At the start of the season, no one expected us to even try to fight on all four fronts. Now we’re still fighting for the biggest, and that’s the reality. It’s still a possibility that this season will be very, very special.”

Is the Premier League Enough for Liverpool Fans?

Liverpool fans have been fortunate to witness immense success under Jürgen Klopp, with Premier League and Champions League triumphs already in the bank. But with the manager set to leave at the end of the season, would securing another league title be the perfect farewell, or do the missed opportunities still sting?

What do you think—will winning the Premier League alone be enough to define this as a great season, or will the missed trophies overshadow it?