Virgil van Dijk: These are the nights you live for as a player

Virgil van Dijk wants Liverpool to rise to the occasion when they face Real Madrid at Anfield this evening and build on their last outing.

The Reds have switched their focus to Champions League matters as Los Blancos return to L4 for the second straight season in the league phase.

Van Dijk and his teammates head into this latest clash between the European heavyweights on the back of an encouraging 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League.

In his column in the matchday programme, the captain writes: "Saturday was a step in the right direction, for sure, but now we need to follow that up with another big performance in a big game.

"And games don't come much bigger than Real Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League."

"It goes without saying that we are all really looking forward to the challenge, and I am sure you guys are as well. These are the nights you live for as a player."

"We know what to expect, of course, and they will too. This time last year, we produced one of our best performances of the whole season to beat them 2-0, and deservedly so. We were excellent that night, producing a real team display."

"That, I remember, was also one of the best atmospheres of the whole season, and we will need more of the same this evening. We need noise, we need passion and we need your support from the first whistle to the last."

"I thought the support against Aston Villa was outstanding, and it was really appreciated. It has obviously been a difficult period in terms of results, and that inevitably leads to lots of noise and criticism, especially from the outside, but on Saturday you guys were with us from the word go, and that backing definitely helped push us towards a very important three points."

"We need everyone at their absolute best again tonight. Real Madrid is a top team, full of top players, experienced players too. They will be ready for a tough evening, no question, and we have to make sure we give them one."

"Anfield is always special on a Champions League night, and I can't wait to see and hear what you have in store for us this time."

"As I say, the win over Villa was a step in the right direction, but we know that there is still more to come from this team."

"We can still improve, for sure, and we have to make sure that we keep working hard, keep working as a team and keep pushing ourselves and our teammates every single day.

Consistency is the key to success, and that is what we have to show now."

"Speaking of consistency, I want to give a mention here to Mo Salah, whose goal against Aston Villa was his 250th in a Liverpool shirt."

"What an achievement, and what a player. To reach a landmark like that, at a club like Liverpool, is extremely special, and the fact that he still has the hunger to work hard and improve every single day says everything about him, his quality and his professionalism. He is an example to everyone, for sure."

"Hopefully he is on the scoresheet again this evening, and hopefully we can follow up one important Anfield victory with another."

"Let's go to work."