Virgil van Dijk looking forward to 'special' first final as Liverpool captain

While Sunday's Carabao Cup final will be a special occasion for anyone gracing the Wembley turf, it will have even greater meaning for Virgil van Dijk as he leads the Reds out in his first final as Liverpool captain.

Speaking to the club's official website, the Dutchman reflected on the significance of the occasion as the side goes all out to clinch the first silverware of the season.

“It will be a very proud day, a special day," he said. "Hopefully we can make it the best possible outcome by winning the cup and taking it back to Liverpool."

For Van Dijk, this will be his third appearance in a Wembley final for Liverpool, a fact he describes as "out of this world".

He stressed the importance of not only relishing the occasion but also demonstrating the team's quality on the pitch.

“Hopefully, if it (winning) happens, it will give us a massive boost for the last part of the season," said the 32-year-old.

Challenging circumstances

The Netherlands captain went on to acknowledge the recent changes to the Liverpool squad, including him inheriting the armband from Jordan Henderson, and expressed his pride in the team's ability to adapt to new challenges: “Over the last couple of years, players have left, that’s how football works at times, and new players have come in.

"It’s not a given that you settle that quickly and gel that quickly and make sure that results are going your way."

In the midst of preparations for the final, the looming departure of manager Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season has been a topic of discussion.

Van Dijk acknowledges the emotions surrounding Klopp's departure but says the team's focus is on the task at hand: winning the final and securing the first trophy of the season.

“The end of the season will be probably very emotional for a lot of people, including the manager, but we are not there yet. We shouldn’t look too far ahead, we should look at what is in front of us and that’s what we want to do," he said.

Self-confidence

Looking ahead to the match against Chelsea, Van Dijk stressed the importance of concentrating on their own game rather than the opposition.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game because Chelsea is a very good team with very good individual players that can make a difference," he said.

However, while he recognises the challenge posed by Chelsea, he remains confident in Liverpool's ability to emerge victorious and make it a proud day for the club.

“We have to be very good but I am definitely looking forward to the final and hopefully we can make it a proud Liverpool day and get our first trophy."