The Reds endured a difficult 2025/26 campaign, finishing fifth in the Premier League and only just scraping into the Champions League, form that ultimately cost Arne Slot his job just twelve months after leading the club to the title. Van Dijk was among the most vocal internal critics of that collapse, and has labelled the season "unacceptable."
Speaking ahead of the new campaign, the Dutch defender made clear he expects a different mentality from his teammates this time around.
"For me personally, being a Liverpool player, last year was unacceptable," Van Dijk said. "But that is last year.
"This year we have an opportunity to turn that around, together with our fans. And we all know how tough that will be but if you're not up for the challenge, then you're not at the right place.
"What I feel at the moment is everyone is up for the challenge. Let's see how we go about it.
"But I'm really looking forward to this season and I don't think we have a point to prove to anyone. We have to show how much we care, how much we want to fight for this badge and also realise how privileged we are to be playing for Liverpool. If you look at Bournemouth last year under Iraola, I think they were pretty exciting. I would say if we keep working, keep believing, keep showing our quality, staying fit, and hopefully win a lot of games then we can be very excited.
"That's the aim, that's what we fight for, but we all know how tough it is. We all know how tough it is to be playing Premier League football, to be playing on all four fronts, but you have to embrace it. You have to enjoy the ride. We are all so blessed here and we have to keep going and enjoy it, and that's what I will do, and I encourage everyone to do that as well. That's what I keep saying to the boys as well, so let's see."
Liverpool have overhauled parts of the squad ahead of Andoni Iraola's first season in charge, with club icons Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson having left, while Ibrahima Konate departed for Real Madrid. The club have reinvested by signing Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet, with Ronald Araujo also arriving on loan from Barcelona.
Van Dijk also addressed the club's ongoing transfer business.
"We need a squad that is able to compete on all four fronts and that's the only way to try to be successful," he said. "Let's see what the last couple of weeks of the transfer window will bring and then let's go for it."