Tag: Van Dijk

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says he wants Andy Robertson to stay at the club as he remains a “very important” member of the squad.

Earlier this week, Tottenham opened talks with Liverpool in an effort to sign the left-back, who is out of contract in the summer.

“He’s my vice-captain,” said Van Dijk. “Robbo is a very important member of our team and I want him to stay but whatever happens, let’s see.”

Liverpool signed Robertson from Hull City for £8m in 2017 during Jurgen Klopp’s reign and he has made 364 appearances for the Reds.

The 31-year-old has won nine trophies during his time at the Anfield club, including two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Robertson is no longer the first-choice left-back at Liverpool but is keen to play regularly again and is considering options that allow him to do that.

The Scotland international came off the bench to replace Milos Kerkez at half-time in Saturday’s defeat at Bournemouth but he has started just four times in the Premier League this season.

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Pushed on whether he expected Robertson to be at Anfield for Liverpool’s Champions League game against Qarabag on Wednesday, Van Dijk said: “That’s not on me, is it?”

The Liverpool skipper was then asked about his best memories of Robertson but insisted he would only “speak about that” if the move happened.

Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Arne Slot refused to discuss the prospect of allowing his vice-captain to leave when he was asked whether he felt Robertson would still be a Liverpool player by the end of January.

“What do you think my answer is going to be? Have I ever said anything about transfers in front of these microphones,” said Slot.

“My answer is always the same and it’s quite boring to always give the same answer – we don’t talk about transfers in public.”

Virgil van Dijk said Liverpool’s players are letting manager Arne Slot down after the Premier League champions’ collapse continued with a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool have lost six of their last seven league games to slide into the bottom half of the table, putting Slot under pressure after the club’s record spend of nearly £450 million ($590 million) in the transfer market.

“We are definitely letting him (Slot) down but we’ve let ourselves down as well,” said Van Dijk. “You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

“As the champions we can’t be in the situation we are in right now. What are we going to do about it? We’re going to try to turn it around and that’s the mentality everyone should have.”

None of Liverpool’s big money summer signings have yet to make a positive impact.

Read Also: Superb Forest embarrass Liverpool at Anfield

Alexander Isak, who cost a British transfer record £125 million, is still to score a league goal for the Reds and looked a shadow of the player he was at Newcastle during an ineffectual 68 minutes against Forest.

But many of last season’s title winners have also suffered a slump in form with Van Dijk’s centre-back partner Ibrahima Konate also replaced early by Slot after another poor performance.

“What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better,” added Van Dijk.

“We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it and happy and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes because this club has gone through much adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it.”

Liverpool’s form in the Champions League has been much better with three wins from four games.

The return to European competition could offer some relief for Slot’s men when PSV Eindhoven visit Anfield in Liverpool’s next outing on Wednesday.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has signed a new two-year contract with the club, ending months of fevered speculation over his future just a week after Mohamed Salah extended his stay.

The announcement comes with Liverpool potentially just days away from winning the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first season in charge.

“I’m very happy, very proud,” said Van Dijk, whose existing deal, like Salah’s, had been set to expire at the end of the season. “There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it.

“It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy.”

With new deals confirmed for Salah and Van Dijk, the future of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold remains unresolved.

The England international, who returned to training on Wednesday after a month out because of injury, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Read Also: Liverpool’s Van Dijk confirms  contract extension talks

Van Dijk, 33, has made 314 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 27 goals.

He has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup, all under former manager Jurgen Klopp.

Last month Van Dijk said he had “no idea” if he would remain at Anfield but on Sunday hinted that he was set to extend his stay.

The imposing centre-back had been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain but said his heart was set on Liverpool.

“It was always Liverpool,” he said. “That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan and it was always Liverpool.

“There wasn’t any doubt in my head that this is the place to be for me and my family. I’m one of Liverpool. Someone called me the other day an adopted Scouser -– I’m really proud to hear these things, it gives me a great feeling.”

Van Dijk arrived from Southampton in January 2018 for £75 million ($99 million), then a world record fee for a defender, and has been instrumental in Liverpool’s rise back to the top of the English and European game.

He won the Champions League in 2019 and a year later helped deliver the club’s first league title for 30 years.

He also came second in the 2019 Ballon d’Or vote, losing out to Argentina star Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times.

Van Dijk, who played for Celtic before joining Southampton, took over the club captaincy in 2023 following the departure of Jordan Henderson.

Now he is on the brink of adding to his collection of silverware with Liverpool, who are set to equal Manchester United’s record of 20 English titles.

The Reds are 13 points clear of Arsenal with just six games remaining and could wrap up the title this weekend if the Gunners lose.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has said formal discussions over a contract extension have begun at the Premier League club, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old Dutch international defender joined the Merseyside club from Southampton in 2018 and has since helped them win the Premier League, Champions League, two League Cup trophies, the FA Cup and Club World Cup.

“I can say obviously discussions are ongoing with the right people, they have started up but I don’t know, we will see what happens in the future,” the Netherlands skipper was quoted as saying by British media “My full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else. I feel very good, physically, mentally and I am having fun … Full commitment is with Liverpool and to be successful this season.”

Read Also: Van Dijk remains  ‘calm’ over Liverpool future 

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said in August that senior players like Van Dijk, Egypt forward Mohamed Salah and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who are in the final year of their contracts, must earn their future deals.

The Dutch coach, who is in his first season in charge at Anfield, added that any contract extensions would depend on their performance in the current campaign.

Liverpool lead the standings by a point ahead of Manchester City after eight games this season.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said his focus is on leading the Reds’ transition under new manager Arne Slot this season despite doubt over his future at Anfield.

The Dutch centre-back has less than a year remaining on his contract with no signs of an immediate agreement on a new deal.

Van Dijk has been fundamental to Liverpool’s success since joining for a then world record £75 million ($99 million) fee for a defender in January 2018.

A 2-0 win over Brentford on Sunday was his 100th  Liverpool appearance at Anfield during which time he has suffered only two defeats.

 “I’m very calm,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports “I want to be important and stay important for the club. What happens? Let’s see, but I’m very calm about my situation. There’s no reason for me to think about something else because I have the whole season to play.”

Read Also: Liverpool job difficult to ignore, says Slot

Van Dijk has won the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups during his time at Liverpool.

The 33-year-old is expected to be vital to helping his compatriot Slot instil his ideas as he faces the daunting task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp.

 “Whatever happens now, Anfield has a special place in my heart. And it’s been successful. Let’s see what happens,” added Van Dijk.

 “Playing for Liverpool, one of the most if not the most successful club in the world. It feels great to wear the shirt.

 “But there’s so much for the club to improve on, for myself and the team, let’s see what (the season) it brings.”

Virgil van Dijk paid tribute to Liverpool’s “incredible” young guns as the Dutch defender’s late goal grabbed a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the League Cup final on Sunday.

Van Dijk settled a thrilling clash at Wembley with a header from Kostas Tsimikas’s corner in the final minutes of extra-time.

The Liverpool captain was one of few experienced players left on the pitch for Jurgen Klopp’s injury-hit team by the time he scored.

With Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota among Liverpool’s absentees, Klopp started with 20-year-olds Conor Bradley and Harvey Elliott before introducing Bobby Clark (19), James McConnell (19), Jayden Danns (18) and Jarell Quansah (21) from the bench.

 “All the young boys on the pitch, in extra time. It’s incredible, I’m so proud of the boys,” Van Dijk said. “They all played their part in what we achieved today. Intense game for both sides. They had chances we had chances. Amazing.

 “First trophy as Liverpool captain. It’s all for the fans so let’s enjoy it.”

It was Liverpool’s first trophy since Klopp’s shock announcement that he will step down at the end of this season after nine years in charge.

The seventh major trophy of the German’s reign was a nice way to repay him for his transformative spell at Anfield.

But Van Dijk acknowledged Liverpool have more targets in their sights to mark Klopp’s long goodbye.

The Reds sit top of the Premier League, face Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday and take on Sparta Prague in the Europa League last 16.

 “You should always savour the good moments, this is definitely one of them,” Van Dijk said. “Listen, we will never take things for granted and you see today it could have been the other was as well that we lost but we did a job, even with all the problems we have had before the game.”

It was the Blues who began brightly in the opening period as they sought to seize the initiative, with Liverpool goalkeeper Caiomhin Kelleher making a brilliant save in the 20th  minute to deny Cole Palmer.

Chelsea thought they had taken the lead when Raheem Sterling slotted home in the 33rd minute but his goal was ruled out for offside against Nicolas Jackson after a VAR check.

Liverpool had a big chance of theirs in the 40th  minute but Cody Gakpo’s effort came off the post as an evenly balanced half came to a halt.

Both sides resumed with caution upon the resumption of the second half, but it didn’t take long for the chances to come through.

The first big opportunity fell to Harvey Elliott but he saw his shot saved expertly by Djordje Petrovic.

The Reds soon found the back of the net when Andy Robertson’s free-kick was met perfectly by the head of Virgil van Dijk in the 60th  minute, but referee Chris Kavanagh chalked off the Dutchman’s effort for offside in the build-up through VAR.

Conor Gallagher had two chances in a ten-minute span. His weak shot was easily kept out by Caiomhin Kelleher in the 76th  minute before another shot struck the post in the 86th .

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Injury-time saw a barrage of opportunities for the Blues as Cole Palmer quickly picked up the rebound and shot towards the bottom right corner with Kelleher pulling off a stunning save to deny him.

Christopher Nkunku followed through by making space for himself as he picked up the loose ball after chaos in the box and quickly fired a shot towards the right post with Reds goalkeeper Kelleher pulling off another remarkable save to keep the ball out as regulation time ended and extra-time came calling.

Extra-time saw substitute Jayden Danns win the ball in the box but his header was thwarted by Petrovic.

Harvey Elliott came close to opening the scoring for the Reds when he peeled away from his marker and got on the end of a cross from Luis Diaz, but his shot went just wide off the right post.

The all-important goal finally arrived in the 118th  minute when Virgil van Dijk rose highest inside the box to meet a perfectly executed corner kick by Konstantinos Tsimikas. His header was precise and the ball ended up inside the left post as the Merseyside outfit went wild with ecstasy.

It finished with Liverpool claiming yet another League Cup title (10th  in their history) in what could be a fairy-tale ending for manager Jurgen Klopp whose reign at the helm comes to a close in the summer.