Van Dijk in Liverpool talks as contract enters final months

Virgil van Dijk has revealed he is in “discussions with the right people” over his Liverpool future as the club captain moves into the final months of his contract.

Van Dijk is one of a number of high-profile Liverpool players whose deals expire next summer. There is also uncertainty surrounding the futures of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

As it stands, the trio will be able to discuss pre-contract terms with overseas clubs from January, but Van Dijk has said he is in talks over extending his stay at Anfield.

“I can say obviously discussions are ongoing, but I don’t know, we will see what happens in the future,” Van Dijk said. “My full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else.

“What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment. I can only tell you that discussions have been started up and we will see.”

Van Dijk, who joined Liverpool in 2018, turned 33 in July. He remains a key part of a defence that has kept five clean sheets in eight Premier League games so far this season.

“I feel very good, physically, mentally and I am having fun,” Van Dijk said.

“What the future brings I have no idea at the moment, but like I said in my previous answer, discussions are ongoing with the right people and when it’s time to make a decision or whatever, I think you guys [the media] will know it as well.

“But now full commitment and focus is on Liverpool and to be successful this season. So we will see.”

Sunday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea saw Liverpool return to the top of the Premier League table following Manchester City’s 2-1 victory at Wolves earlier in the day.

Van Dijk: Best centre-back in the world?

Since arriving at Anfield from Southampton in 2018, Van Dijk has won a host of team trophies and individual awards. He was part of the team that won the Champions League in 2018-19 and the Premier League title a year later.

He has also won the FA Cup in 2021-22 and the EFL Cup twice, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2019. He was named the Premier League Player of the Season and PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2018-19 and has been named in the PFA Team of the Year four times.

Van Dijk is the only defender to be named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year and was also runner-up in the Ballon d’Or. He captains Netherlands and led them to the final of the inaugural UEFA Nations League tournament.

Liverpool’s key fixture period

Liverpool sit top of the Premier League table after 10 wins in their opening 11 fixtures in all competitions under new manager Arne Slot. But they have a busy few weeks with key fixtures in both European and domestic competition.

They travel to RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday before facing Arsenal live on Sky Sports on Super Sunday. The Reds have back-to-back fixtures against Brighton in the EFL Cup and the league before hosting German champions Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

Premier League fixtures against Aston Villa and Southampton follow before Anfield welcomes Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League.

With seven wins from eight in the league, Slot has made an impressive start to life at Anfield. During the summer the talk had been over a battle between City and Arsenal for the Premier League title, but Liverpool’s form, suggests they can’t be discounted.

Van Dijk said: “Everyone can have their opinion but… opinions can change every three days now in terms of (people saying) someone can win the league and someone can’t. I think there is no point listening to any of that. I don’t do that.

“I focus on one game at a time, I want to be successful, I want to win trophies in every competition we’re in, I want to try and win it. We know how difficult it is but I am going to give it a very good go I think.”