Tag: Virgil Van Dijk

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will lead his team for the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park against Everton on Saturday lunchtime.

Van Dijk emphasized that Liverpool is determined to make up for their disappointing performance in April’s Merseyside derby, where they were defeated 2-0 at Goodison Park. In that match, goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin handed Liverpool their second derby loss since 2010.

Everton fans celebrated the victory, singing about how Liverpool “lost the league at Goodison Park,” but Van Dijk dismissed such taunts ahead of their final visit to Goodison before Everton moves to a new stadium on the waterfront.

“Who said that (Goodison defeat ended title hopes)?! Wow!” Van Dijk remarked, speaking after Wednesday’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle United. “They can say whatever they want! That game was very disappointing in so many ways, but Saturday is another opportunity.”

He continued, “It’s a game where they will definitely be up for it, but so will we. I’m really looking forward to it, going there with our fans, but we all know we need to improve — especially from the first half in terms of the fight in a good way.”

Van Dijk acknowledged that the season would have its ups and downs, but he remained confident about bouncing back, even after the Newcastle draw. “I knew already we are going to have ups and downs this year, this (Newcastle draw) is not a real down even if it feels like it at this point. We will be in, recovering and fresh and ready to attack the next challenge. We have to learn from the first half quite quickly.”

Speaking about Mohamed Salah, who scored twice against Newcastle to reach 15 goals for the season, Van Dijk said: “I think we all know how it works in football; one week you can say that [he’s the best in the world], next week they say something else. I want him to be important like he was in the second half, and Saturday is another big one, so hopefully he can keep it going.”

The captain also addressed goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who made a rare mistake, allowing Fabian Schar to score an equalizer late in the game. Despite this, Van Dijk defended Kelleher, who has impressed during Alisson Becker’s absence.

“Obviously, these things unfortunately happen in football,” Van Dijk said. “You have to keep going. Don’t listen to the reaction or people who will be very harsh on him in my opinion. There will always be people out there. He has had an outstanding season so far and he needs to keep going. We need him to be focused in a few hours when we’re back on the pitch. He will learn from this as we all have to learn from the first half and hopefully be ready for a very, very big one on Saturday, which will be very tough.”

According to a trusted source, Liverpool has extended a new contract offer to Virgil van Dijk as his current deal nears expiration at the end of the season.

As many are aware, Van Dijk, Mo Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all have contracts set to expire in the summer of 2025, giving them the freedom to move to other clubs.

However, a deal for Van Dijk seems to be progressing, with Liverpool reportedly making a formal contract offer, according to respected journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic.

Yet, not all the news is positive. Ornstein shared that the offer “fell short of his expectations and so far there has been no breakthrough on the value or length of an extension.”

He added, “The dialogue has taken place for some time and continues.”

While no deal has been reached yet, it’s clear from these developments – likely originating from the club – that there is confidence in making progress soon.

Virgil van Dijk’s recent comments on contracts

Discussions about the player’s future have mainly taken place behind closed doors.

In his most recent comments, made during an interview with Viaplay late last week, Van Dijk indicated that no agreement was near.

“Honestly, no,” the Dutch captain replied when asked if a deal had been completed.

“There is no change at all, there is no update at all, there is no news for the outside world. So I have nothing to share.

“[I understand the curiosity] but there is nothing at all, it is all untrue.”

These remarks followed Van Dijk briefly joining Salah in the mixed zone after Liverpool’s 3-2 victory over Southampton on November 24, where he smiled while saying, “I will play at the top level as long as possible, for sure, me and this man.”

From his words, it’s clear that Van Dijk is eager to stay.

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Liverpool to compete with Atletico Madrid for 21-year-old talent’s signature

Liverpool is reportedly set to compete with Atletico Madrid and other top European clubs for the signature of PSV Eindhoven’s Ricardo Pepi.

The 21-year-old United States international has been in excellent form for PSV this season, scoring six goals in 11 Eredivisie matches—just one goal shy of his total from last season. Pepi netted seven goals in 27 league appearances during the 2023/24 campaign, helping PSV secure the Eredivisie title with a commanding seven-point lead over Feyenoord, managed by Arne Slot.

Now, Pepi appears to be attracting attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Liverpool. According to CaughtOffside, the Reds are reportedly monitoring the forward, who could be available for a rumored fee of $26.4m (£20.8m/€25m).

Atletico Madrid is also said to be keeping an eye on Pepi, alongside Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Currently, while Liverpool’s attacking options are strong, the team is left with just one fit striker, Darwin Nunez, due to Diogo Jota’s injury.

The Athletic recently reported that Jota is expected to be sidelined for “about a week after the international break,” meaning he will miss matches against Southampton, Real Madrid, and Manchester City. Unless there is a tactical change, Nunez is likely to lead the attack for Liverpool in these games.

With Jota’s ongoing fitness issues, questions are being raised about whether Liverpool should target a new striker in January, particularly with their strong push for the Premier League title this season. Jota has not managed to complete a full Premier League campaign for Liverpool, with the only time he played more than 30 league matches coming in the 2021/22 season.

Virgil van Dijk spoke after Liverpool’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, acknowledging his potential role in Ibrahima Konate’s injury during the match. Konate, 25, had to leave the game at half-time due to an arm injury.

As the whistle blew for the break, Konate received medical attention on the field after getting hurt during a corner. He appeared to be in pain, using his shirt as a makeshift brace for his left arm while heading to the dressing room.

Since coming off the bench in the season opener against Ipswich Town, Konate has started every Premier League game and all three Champions League matches, with Liverpool set to face Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.

After the match, Van Dijk explained that he unintentionally collided with Konate during the set-piece, which he believes may have contributed to the injury. “[There were] so many bodies around the ball and I think I headed him on his arm,” he told Sky Sports. “Hopefully it is not too bad. We just have to see. You can be quite okay as a player with an arm injury so hopefully he will be fine.”

Liverpool’s victory, featuring goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, lifted them back to the top of the Premier League following Manchester City’s loss to Bournemouth. Van Dijk cautioned his teammates against becoming complacent. “It’s too early to even make it [being top of the table] important,” he said. “We want to be on top of the league but we want to be there after the last match in May.”

He added, “The results have been good so far this season but there is a long way to go. It is still a work in progress. We stay humble and keep fighting.”

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Ballon d’Or rankings showcase Liverpool’s smart move for the 2025/26 season

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris has concluded with Man City’s Rodri taking the top honor, but the rankings reveal that Liverpool made a savvy move by signing Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Liverpool experienced a quiet summer transfer window in 2024, marked by significant changes behind the scenes following Jurgen Klopp’s departure. New head coach Arne Slot needed time to evaluate his squad, and with his satisfaction in what he observed, the club added just two players.

The Reds secured Federico Chiesa from Juventus, technically their sole addition for the current season. They also signed Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia in a £29 million deal but loaned him back to the La Liga club.

The Georgian international showcased impressive performances throughout the 2023/24 season, notably during Euro 2024, which attracted interest from various clubs across Europe. However, Liverpool surprised many by acquiring the 24-year-old over the summer.

This move has proven to be a smart investment, as highlighted by the latest Ballon d’Or rankings

Giorgi Mamardashvili achieved an impressive seventh-place finish in the final standings for the Yachine Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper in the world, which went to Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez.

Mamardashvili outperformed Liverpool’s current number one, Alisson, underscoring the Reds’ astute summer signing. Valencia might have demanded a higher price for him in 2025, especially now that he is recognized among the top 10 goalkeepers globally.

Next season will be intriguing to see whether Mamardashvili can claim Alisson’s starting spot at Anfield or if he will need to wait another year before taking over from the Brazilian.

Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah have been central to Liverpool’s success over the years, clinching every major trophy under Jurgen Klopp.

This season, the trio continues to play a crucial role under new manager Arne Slot. Currently, Liverpool sits second in the Premier League, just a point behind leaders Manchester City. Additionally, they have won all three of their Champions League matches and have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

However, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, and Salah are nearing the final months of their contracts, putting Liverpool at risk of losing them for free next year.

Financial expert Stefan Borson commented on Football Insider that it’s unusual for Liverpool to have allowed their key players to reach this situation. He noted that the club is in a strong position regarding Financial Fair Play, which means they have the resources to negotiate a new deal for Van Dijk. Borson stated:

“They can definitely afford to extend Van Dijk’s contract for a typical level of agreement. However, it’s unexpected that they’ve permitted three major players to reach the final six months of their contracts.”

The Dutchman currently earns approximately £240,000 per week and has mentioned that discussions about a contract renewal are ongoing.

As Van Dijk approaches his 34th birthday next year, it remains uncertain whether Liverpool will offer him a new deal with a pay increase. Nonetheless, he remains one of the world’s top defenders, having scored two goals and kept seven clean sheets across all competitions this season.

In all fairness, Liverpool should consider retaining Van Dijk by offering him at least a two-year contract. What do you think?

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Mohamed Salah delivers strong message to Liverpool after Arne Slot’s comment raises a key question

Mohamed Salah proved to be Liverpool’s hero once again as Arne Slot’s team secured a point against Arsenal, highlighting his ongoing significance for the club.

Following Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, Salah broke from his usual silence regarding contract discussions, stating that no one had approached him about a new deal at Anfield. This was a rare moment for Salah, who typically avoids post-match interviews, letting his performance speak for itself. Against Arsenal, he did just that.

By scoring after being set up by Darwin Nunez, Salah not only helped his team return to Merseyside with a crucial point but also tied with Robbie Fowler for eighth place on the all-time Premier League scoring list at 163 goals. By the end of the 2024/25 season, he could surpass Frank Lampard and Thierry Henry.

Additionally, Salah is now just one goal shy of Roberto Firmino’s Liverpool club record of 11 league goals against Arsenal. It’s a common occurrence for Salah to break records or set new statistics in nearly every match he plays.

“But that’s not only all,” Arne Slot remarked in his post-match press conference. “It’s also that he’s available for us. Top players are always present and perform in critical games. Today was significant for us, just like last week against Chelsea, where he contributed a goal and an assist. Having such quality players is essential for a big club like ours and Arsenal’s, as their absence makes achieving results challenging.”

While Salah didn’t comment on his contract situation after the match, he once again stepped up when it mattered most, showcasing his role as Liverpool’s talisman. His contributions are clearly valued by Slot.

This season, Salah boasts eight goals and seven assists in 13 appearances, leading Liverpool in both categories. If these statistics don’t warrant a contract extension, what would?

Virgil van Dijk shares his thoughts on his future following his potential departure from Liverpool. As he nears the last six months of his contract with the club, the Dutch defender’s next steps in football are unclear due to interest from various teams. He also talked about his aspirations for life after his playing career.

Virgil van Dijk has admitted that he does not envision himself becoming a manager after his playing career ends. The 33-year-old defender is at a pivotal moment in his career as he nears the final six months of his Liverpool contract, raising questions about his immediate future.

In a conversation on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Van Dijk shared his thoughts on life after football, suggesting he prefers to remain involved in the sport in a non-coaching capacity.

“I said no [to management] but that’s also because coming to this hectic, busy, on-it life that my family is sacrificing a lot, my wife and my kids, to then have a year off or two years off and then going back into it…I don’t think I see it happening, but never say never,” he said.

He expressed his commitment to giving back to football, highlighting his enjoyment in watching younger players. “I really feel like I definitely will give something back to football. I love working and seeing younger players out there. I like going, for example, to the Liverpool academy to watch the under-11, 12, 13. The other day I watched the little tournament, under-16s, if I’m correct, and just a couple of games, but also because of the joy, it’s just nice to see.”

Reflecting on his own youth, Van Dijk recalled a memorable training session with first-team players from Willem II when he was a child. “I know what kind of impact it makes to the younger boys and the younger generation, but what they give to me as well, seeing them happy and playing with pure joy…that’s something that brings a lot to me as well.”

When asked about his future, he stated, “I would love to stay in football in the future. But at this time, I don’t know which kind of role, and it’s too far away to think about it.”

Before considering his next steps, Van Dijk must resolve his situation at Liverpool. He recently mentioned that “discussions are ongoing” with club officials, but fans are anxiously awaiting clarity on his future.