Van Dijk speaks frankly after Barcola unlocks his first goal for Liverpool with a hat-trick.
On 16 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool's captain and defender, said he believes Bradley Barcola's hat-trick will be a key turning point, unleashing top form after Barcola scored his first goals in the 6-3 UEFA Champions League away win against LASK Linz.
Previously, Bradley Barcola had failed to score or assist in his first six appearances for Liverpool. But in Wednesday's game, the £123 million signing from Paris Saint-Germain scored all three goals himself, earning the match ball to take home.
Virgil van Dijk spoke about Barcola's first Liverpool goals via his hat-trick, saying, "This is very important for him. He is quite reserved and doesn’t often show his feelings much."
"But everyone knows this moment will help him a lot. Hopefully, he will score many more hat-tricks in the future."
Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk, who joined Liverpool in 2018 for a then club-record £75 million, discussed helping Bradley Barcola handle the pressure of his transfer fee and how Liverpool supports new players to adapt to the team.
"It's about creating an environment that allows him to express his potential on the pitch. As footballers, everyone wants to get out there and show what they can do."
"For him, scoring goals is a key part of his playing style. Scoring a hat-trick in the Champions League is a fantastic achievement, both for him and for all of us."
"Of course, we can share experiences. It’s about helping each other towards success. We all work together. Now, Bradley is gradually adapting well to the team. He will do very well, for sure."
