A short statement posted on this website at 6pm GMT on Wednesday December 27 confirmed the Reds were set to sign the centre-back from Southampton.
The article came complete with a now-well-known image of Van Dijk holding up a Liverpool jersey in front of a Christmas tree, adding an extra sense of reality to the news.
The 27-year-old formally finalised his transfer on January 1 – and hasn’t looked back since.
Over the past 12 months, Van Dijk has established himself as one of the key figures in Liverpool’s outstanding form, playing a vital role in helping Jürgen Klopp’s side to the top of the Premier League table with a miserly – and quite astonishing – seven goals conceded so far this term.