Liverpool News: Big Van Dijk update

Virgil van Dijk’s type for Liverpool this season has been disappointing by his excessive requirements, however when is he more likely to deliver an finish to his Reds profession?

The Dutchman was badly at fault for Bournemouth’s opening objective in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat on the south coast, summing up what has been a irritating marketing campaign for the captain.

Van Dijk was a deeply annoyed determine after the sport, each when it comes to the outcomes and the truth that he thought he could have been fouled for the Cherries’ late winner:

“Very dissatisfied. Final minute of the sport, very robust to take. However such as you mentioned, we labored very laborious – within the second half particularly – to get again within the sport. Clearly at occasions we had been open as effectively as a result of we had been attempting to push for the winner. However to concede that late could be very disappointing.

“What I felt on that pitch was that I used to be clearly blocked, however clearly the ref and VAR don’t give it and that’s one thing we then have to just accept. For my part, I used to be blocked. However hear, I can stand right here and say it shouldn’t be given – however it’s given and it’s what it’s.”

Now, Soccer Insider report that Liverpool’s plan is for Van Dijk “to see out the top of his contract and don’t have any intention of promoting him in the summertime”, regardless of his dropoff of late.

Is Van Dijk’s type a trigger for concern?

There is no such thing as a denying that Van Dijk has fallen effectively beneath the world-class requirements anticipated of him all through his Liverpool profession, however any speak of him leaving this summer season is nonsense.

He stays one of many first names on the Reds’ group sheet, typically main the troops beautifully, and whereas he could flip 35 years of age this summer season, he nonetheless has just a few extra good years in him.

It might be that Liverpool and Van Dijk mutually resolve that the summer season of 2027 is the proper time for one of many best-ever Anfield careers to return to an finish.

That mentioned, if he ups his sport between now and the top of subsequent season, one other short-term extension shouldn’t be fully out of the query, given the affect he can nonetheless have.