“Obviously it’s going to be very tough but we’ve been through very tough times anyway and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to every bit of it.
“We’re all in this together and that’s how it should be. Us as a group with players, staff but together with our fans, we have to go together into this and support each other and be there for each other in the good and lesser-good days.”
The captain continues: “Any success with Liverpool, obviously that feeling is incredible. Last year we celebrated all together. That feeling when we were crowned champions against Spurs… they call it dopamine. It’s just incredible.
“Personally, I think that’s what you play football for. You want to be leaving a legacy behind, you want to be remembered, you want to inspire the next generation in everything you do.
“We are at a club where legends will be remembered and honoured and always be welcomed back. It’s an amazing feeling and an amazing feeling that we were part of that period of time, but we still are part of the club and want to be successful.
“It’s just amazing, it’s just a special feeling. Personally, I could have never dreamed about this when I was younger. That’s the beauty of football as well and the beauty of life: keep going, consistency, never give up and enjoy the whole ride that’s ahead of you.”
Salah and Van Dijk’s raft of major honours with Liverpool include two Premier League titles, having been members of the squad that ended the club’s 30-year wait for a championship in 2020.
That achievement was tinged by the absence of supporters to celebrate alongside amid the COVID-19 pandemic and behind-closed-doors football.
Fulfilling the dream of winning the league in front of fans earlier this year has had a profound effect on even the most experienced and medalled of players.
“After winning the Premier League last year, there is no dopamine that will come to my body like that time!” says Salah.
“We had a chance also to win the Premier League [without playing] this season, and I’m glad we didn’t. The guys were at the AXA [Training Centre] and were just waiting for [Crystal] Palace to win against Arsenal.
“And I was just praying inside, we were sitting next to each other: ‘Please not, please not.’ Because we wanted to win it at Anfield, you see how special it was for the fans. It was just incredible to win the Premier League at Anfield.”
