The Holland centre-back and Liverpool captain played every minute of every Premier League game this season — 38 appearances — in a campaign that saw the defending champions slip to a fifth-place finish and fail to mount any credible title defence.
"It's been the most challenging year of my career. It's tough to take, tough to go through that as a team," Van Dijk told Sky Sports after the 1-1 draw with Brentford at Anfield. "But we are Liverpool. We always come out of it stronger."
He described Champions League qualification — secured on goal difference on the final day, with Bournemouth's draw at Nottingham Forest sealing Liverpool's spot — as the only positive from an otherwise disappointing campaign.
"The bare minimum that we should try to get out of this poor season," Van Dijk said flatly.
Van Dijk, 34, also set a Premier League record during the finale, becoming the oldest outfield player to feature in every minute of a full top-flight season, surpassing a mark set by John Terry. It was the second time he has achieved the feat since joining from Southampton in January 2018.
The personal milestone sat in uncomfortable contrast to the collective picture. Liverpool lost the title to Arsenal, suffered quarter-final exits in both the Champions League and FA Cup, and ended with a squad visibly short of the depth required to compete on multiple fronts under Arne Slot.
Salah's farewell — 257 goals, 123 assists, nine years — drew the biggest emotional response from supporters. Robertson left alongside him. Both made their final appearances in the same match. Van Dijk was present for all of it, as he was for every minute of this season.
The next chapter at Anfield must be built on what has gone before. Van Dijk's contract runs to 2027 and he has shown no indication of leaving.