Sad reason why Virgil van Dijk doesn't have his surname on the back of his Liverpool shirt

The real reason why Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk doesn't wear his surname on the back of his shirt has been revealed, and it's heartbreaking.

On Wednesday evening, Arne Slot is set to face one of the most anticipated matches of his first season as Liverpool boss as he faces Everton in the first Merseyside derby of the season.

Ahead of the match, several of Liverpool's senior player will undoubtedly have been preparing the new manager for the hostile reception he will face at Goodison Park.

And there is perhaps no one better at the club to teach Slot all about the derby than his countryman and club captain, Van Dijk.

Having spent seven years at Liverpool, Van Dijk is one of the longest serving players in Slot's squad, making over 300 appearances for the Reds.

One thing that has stood out to fabs during this time, is the Dutchman's decision to have his first name printed on the back of his Liverpool shirt, instead of his surname as is typically done by footballers.

But a close family member has previously spoken up to reveal that the reason why Van Dijk decided to drop his second name because of his relationship with his father.

Speaking to The Sun back in 2018, his uncle Steven Fo Sieeuw, said: "His dad split with his mother and three children, including Virgil.

"The truth is his dad was not around for so many important years, and it is his mother who is the real hero of this story.

"You don't take your dad's name off your shirt without a reason, and Virgil has made it very clear how he feels."

Virgil van Dijk has enjoyed a highly successful spell at Liverpool. (Image: Getty)

Although the Liverpool skipper's reasoning for taking his dad's name off of his shirt is truly sad, he hasn't allowed it to impact his performances on the pitch, as he has gone on to enjoy a storied career with the Reds.

In his seven years at Anfield, Van Dijk has won eight trophies including both the Premier League and the Champions League.

During this time, the 33-year-old has also picked up several individual awards including the UEFA Best Player in Europe in 2019.