Virgil van Dijk set to reach major Liverpool milestone against LASK

Virgil van Dijk set to reach major Liverpool milestone against LASK Virgil van Dijk nears captaincy milestone ahead of Liverpool vs LASK There are numbers that matter and numbers that merely fill space. This one matters. If Virgil van Dijk leads Liverpool out against LASK, he will captain the club for the 200th time. That is serious company, the sort reserved for men who leave a mark on the place. Only seven others have previously reached that double century for Liverpool. Steven Gerrard tops the list on 470, followed by Ron Yeats on 417, Emlyn Hughes on 335, Donald MacKinlay on 293, Jordan Henderson on 268, Alex Raisbeck on 267 and Sami Hyypia on 204. Van Dijk joining that group tells its own story. He has been more than a centre-half for Liverpool, he has been the reference point, the fella others look to when the game needs calming or dragging into order. Photo: IMAGO Liverpool record offers encouragement There is decent reason for confidence going into this European outing. Liverpool are aiming to win their opening two group or league phase matches for the fifth time in the last seven European campaigns. They have generally travelled well in this part of the continent too. LASK are one of five Austrian opponents Liverpool have faced, alongside Austria Wien, Swarovski Tirol, AK Graz and Red Bull Salzburg. The record stands up well enough. Liverpool have won eight of their 10 games against Austrian sides and lost only once, that defeat coming at Anfield against AK Graz in a 2004-05 Champions League qualifier. More striking still, none of Liverpool’s last 44 European matches have finished level since the 3-3 game with Benfica at Anfield in April 2022. If you fancy a stalemate, history says think again. Liverpool have not had a goalless draw in their last 82 Champions League group-stage or league-phase matches since an away trip to PSV Eindhoven in 2006-07. Virgil van Dijk and defensive platform There is another small marker worth watching. Liverpool could keep a third successive away clean sheet in all competitions for the first time since January 2024. That tends to be the bedrock of any proper European performance, especially on a night when the opposition will scrap for every second ball. Andoni Iraola’s men have won all three games this season when they have scored the opening goal. That gives the first 20 minutes a certain weight. Get in front and the evening can be managed. Fall behind and the crowd senses weakness. Alexis Mac Allister also carries an unusual European note into the game. He has scored six Champions League goals for Liverpool, all of them at Anfield. If he fancies changing the pattern, this would be a useful time. LASK form and European context LASK know their way around continental football. This is their 17th season in major European competition and their third in the premier tournament. Their recent record in these opening sections is poor, though. They have not won any of their last eight UEFA group-stage or league-phase fixtures and began 2026-27 with a 1-0 defeat away to AEK Athens. This will be their 14th match of the season after a campaign that started on July 25. So far they have won eight, drawn one and lost four. Useful form domestically, patchy form in Europe. Liverpool will see an opening there. The job is simple enough, start well, stay sharp, and let Van Dijk’s milestone become a winning one.