Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will not be lifting the Premier League trophy above his head this weekend even if the Reds avoid defeat — the required result to confirm first place in the standings.
With four games remaining after Tottenham — Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton and Crystal Palace — Liverpool could yet end up on 94 points. But it only needs one more to be too far ahead for the second-placed Gunners to catch.
The Premier League trophy presentation, though, will be saved for the final day of the campaign. Van Dijk and the rest of his the Liverpool team will get their hands on the silverware on May 25, with a trophy parade likely to come a day later.
There had been some talk that certain players might not reach the threshold to collect a medal. Federico Chiesa, for instance, has barely played since arriving from Juventus last summer.
However, in reality, the Premier League rulebook essentially leaves it up to the winning team to decide how medals are distributed. “The champions are given 40 commemorative medals made of silver, which are 2.25 inches (5.7 centimeters) in diameter,” it reads.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool. (Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
“They can be distributed to the manager, players and officials, as the club see fit, as long as every player who has made at least five Premier League appearances during the title-winning season gets one.
“Additional medals may only be presented with the consent of the Premier League Board, and that will only be granted if more than 39 players have made at least five Premier League appearances during the campaign.”
With games to spare and the title already wrapped up, the attention can turn in part to what should be a big summer for Liverpool. Van Dijk is expecting some changes, and looking forward to having a full pre-season.
“Quite exciting? It is very exciting!” he told reporters ahead of the title being officially confirmed. “Like I said, we had this season without a proper pre-season, without proper work behind the scenes on how the manager wants us to attack and defend, and be in possession.
“We do those things in training, but especially in the first part of the season, you don’t have time to work on those things because you work every three or four days. Let’s see what the season ending will look like and then we have a good break for the first time in quite a while. We have to maximize that.”
Liverpool.com says: When the time comes, it is going to be special. Reds fans have waited for this moment for some time now and lifting the trophy inside a packed Anfield will be a moment that has been a long time coming.
