Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, has recently spoken out about his future at the club amidst uncertainty surrounding his contract. His current deal with Liverpool is set to expire in 2025. The Dutch defender's comments came after Liverpool's impressive 2-0 victory over Brentford in the Premier League.
Despite being into the final year of his contract at Anfield, Van Dijk appears to be quite relaxed about his future. This comes as several other high-profile players are also nearing the end of their contracts this season, including Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Van Dijk joined Liverpool for a hefty $99m (£75m) in January 2018 and has since proven himself to be worth every penny. He has established himself as one of the world's best centre-backs during his tenure on Merseyside.
No comment on future plans
Sky Sports reporter had an opportunity to speak with Van Dijk following Liverpool's triumphant win over Brentford at Anfield - marking two wins from two under new manager Arne Slot. However, when questioned about his future plans with the club, he chose not to comment.
Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, said:
"I am very calm. I want to play the best season I can," Van Dijk said. "I want to stay important this year. Whatever happens next year, we will see. Everything happens for a reason. There has been no change in my situation but I am very calm about it. There is no reason for me to think about anything else because I have a whole season to play and hopefully we will be successful."
Call for comparison ceasefire between Slot and Klopp
In addition to addressing questions around his contract situation, Van Dijk also took a moment during this interview to urge fans and pundits alike to stop drawing comparisons between new manager Arne Slot and former boss Jurgen Klopp.
Virgil van Dijk added:
"The time with Jurgen is amazing and the time with the new boss is a joy and he has a certain way of playing, We work a lot on so many good things and you see a lot with and without the ball that gives confidence to the team. We have to, I won't say forget about the Jurgen period, but that is in the past and we had an amazing time and now it is a time for the new boss to hopefully be successful. That's why we have to focus on that, not have comparisons and all of this stuff in my opinion.
"We don't have new players so far but obviously [I have] that extra responsibility because I know the players inside and out. But I am here for him [Slot]. I told him that from day one and I will help them and the backroom staff. I want to be successful and we are in the same boat. There is extra responsibility there."
The Dutch defender seems keen on allowing Slot time and space to establish himself without constantly being compared against Klopp’s legacy at Anfield. While there remains uncertainty around what lies ahead for Virgil van Dijk post-2025 when it comes down to playing for Liverpool or elsewhere; one thing is clear - he continues making significant contributions towards Liverpool's success. As fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike await further news, the focus remains on the current season and the performances of this talented team under their new management.
