Before and after the Champions League match between Liverpool and Real Madrid, Red Army captain Van Dijk said when asked about Alexander-Arnold that he had not spoken to him and had almost no contact: "There is no personal reason. I live my life and he lives his life in Madrid."

In this regard, The Athletic issued an article stating that Van Dijk's answer seemed to reflect his attitude as the leader of Liverpool and the team's position rather than the hostility against Arnold. There were indeed some relatively cold moments between them, especially after the 2-2 draw with Manchester United in January this year. Van Dijk severely criticized Arnold for his mistakes. This situation is common. People familiar with the matter said that there is no conflict between the two.

In the last game of last season, Van Dijk was the first person to hug Arnold after the final whistle. That game was the last game of Arnold's Red Army career. After the 1-0 victory over Leicester City in April, Van Dijk pushed Alexander-Arnold to greet the away fans. After the recent home game between Liverpool and Real Madrid, the two briefly hugged.

Van Dijk takes his responsibility as captain of Liverpool very seriously. As a public figure, he knows that he represents the club and knows the views of most fans on Arnold's decision to leave the team. Given that Van Dijk has always defended Liverpool's interests, it would be very inappropriate to hear him say that he would welcome Alexander-Arnold back to Merseyside. For his part, he needs to temper his attitude when it comes to Arnold.

Van Dijk seems to be very happy to be the spokesperson of Liverpool players. Since being appointed as the team captain in July 2023, he has insisted on accepting questions from the media in the mixed interview area after the game.

Van Dijk strives to convey the right message and set the tone for the future. Last season, he focused on keeping his teammates calm and not making any bold statements based on the team's position in the league, emphasizing the importance of rest and recovery. This season, as Liverpool's record has declined, Van Dijk's external message has also changed. He urged his teammates to "ignore the noise from the outside" and instill a unity mentality in the team. His words were positive and inspiring, but he was also very strict, dissatisfied when he lost, and uncompromising in his standards for himself and others.

Van Dijk is also a benchmark within the Liverpool training team and is equally influential off the court. Other players will follow his example and form their own teams, including chefs and physical therapists. For example, Hrafenberch said that Van Dijk's advice on diet and recovery played a key role in changing his fortunes at the club. Van Dijk was also recognized for his handling of Jota's unexpected death, with his leadership in the aftermath of the tragedy further elevating his standing within the club.

Van Dijk's attitude as captain of Liverpool is exactly the same as when he was in the Dutch national team. For him, as a national footballer, there is no respite between international matches. As a double captain, his tasks are always heavy, but he still needs to always think about how to motivate and inspire his teammates. For example, on the eve of last year's European Cup, he wrote handwritten letters for each player and placed them on their hotel beds.

As the core figure of the team, he often attracts outspoken comments from famous players. Van Dijk's leadership and personal abilities have been questioned by Dutch famous players Van Basten and Gullit. Recently, Premier League star Rooney also criticized Van Dijk and Salah's decline in form after renewing their contracts. In response to these remarks, Van Dijk said that he understood that commentators sometimes need to make some "controversial" remarks. Although he emphasized the importance of blocking negative public opinion, he was also concerned about the reporting of journalists and media. Van Dijk has blocked reporters in the past, sometimes directly pointing out what he believed was incorrect or unfair.