InterviewHow last season's Carabao Cup final is inspiring a 'very hungry' Virgil van Dijk

Van Dijk secured his first honour as Liverpool captain when he decided the 2023-24 showpiece with Chelsea, that glancing header in extra-time proving to be the difference.

He's hoping to lead the Reds to more Wembley glory in the competition on Sunday afternoon against Newcastle United.

• Carabao Cup final: Go to LFCTV GO for exclusive pre-match build-up, live audio commentary of the game and the full match replay

The No.4 told Liverpoolfc.com: "Obviously last year was pretty special, obviously the whole evening, build-up, how the game went.

"It was definitely a special one that I'm never going to forget. It definitely makes me very hungry to hopefully do it again against a very good Newcastle side.

"These things I will never take for granted. Lifting trophies for Liverpool is an amazing feeling together with our fans.

"I think every night that we have been experiencing these moments have been so special. You want more of it and you want to experience it again and again and again.

"We know how difficult it is and every competition we are competing to be able to do that. But we have an opportunity, a big final, against a very good team that can make it very difficult for you.

"We have to be at our best to hopefully lift that trophy – we have to work hard for it. It's going to be a good game and I'm really looking forward to it."

Van Dijk's match-winning moment in the most recent League Cup final arrived with 118 minutes on the clock and a youthful side on the pitch for Liverpool.

It was Kostas Tsimikas' in-swinging corner from the right that was diverted into the far side of the net by the towering Dutchman, promoting an explosion of relief and joy from the supporters behind the Chelsea goal.

The memory is as fresh to Van Dijk now as it felt then.

Breaking it down, he recalled: "I think the moment you touch the ball, you have a feeling it will go in because of the pace of the ball and the direction the ball is going when I touched it.

"Obviously the feeling is incredible, also knowing that penalties would come after if you don't score and that's always a big question mark. We had a very good goalkeeper in penalties, in my opinion, that could help us out.

"But the way we did it now felt even better."

Significant for being Van Dijk's first with the armband on, the occasion also brought Jürgen Klopp his eighth and final trophy as Liverpool manager.

The departing boss was invited to take centre stage with Van Dijk for the crowning moment.

"I said it on the pitch after the game because I always had it in my mind before the game," the centre-half revealed. "I thought, 'If we're going to do it, I want to lift it together with Jürgen.'

"I didn't mention it before the game obviously to anyone or to him either. But after the game on the pitch before we had to go up the steps I told him I wanted to lift it together, and I'm glad he agreed."

The 4.30pm GMT kick-off at the national stadium this Sunday will be a tussle between two historic clubs desperate to force a change on their honours board.

Van Dijk vows to do anything possible to get over the line and help secure Liverpool an 11th triumph in the competition.

He finished: "You have to find a way and that's for them exactly the same. I'm really looking forward to it in so many ways.

"It's a final, it's a day at Wembley with our fans, family and friends that we want to achieve the maximum [from] – which is holding the cup and going home to Liverpool with the trophy. That's what we're going to fight for."