Slot hails van Dijk’s Liverpool legacy seven years on from his transfer to club | OneFootball

Arne Slot hailed Virgil van Dijk’s impact at Liverpool on the anniversary of the announcement that he would join the club from Southampton.

On this day in 2017, Liverpool announced they would sign van Dijk from Southampton for a fee of £75 million. Seven years on, the Dutch defender has cemented his place as one of the greatest centre-backs in the club’s history and remains integral to the team’s success.

Van Dijk, now 33, has been an ever-present figure for Liverpool in both the Premier League and Champions League this season. Under the guidance of Slot, the Reds currently sit top of both league tables, having lost just one game across all competitions.

And Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp in the dugout, has spoken highly of his captain’s influence this season: “It’s difficult for me to judge his entire time here because I wasn’t at Liverpool during his earlier years, like when he almost won the Ballon d’Or. But from what I’ve seen, Virgil has been an incredible player for this club over so many years.

“His absence during his injury-hit season was a massive blow, which speaks volumes about his importance. Now that I’ve worked with him, I see how he leads in training and during games. He’s the focal leader of this team, always on top of things, always leading by example.”

Van Dijk’s career at Liverpool has not been without challenges. A serious ACL injury in October 2020 sidelined him for most of the 2020/21 campaign, but he returned to reclaim his position as one of Europe’s top defenders.

“His attitude and leadership are unmatched,” Slot continued. “He’s been outstanding this season, both in matches and on the training pitch. For me, he embodies the concept of a leader.”

However, his contract situation remains uncertain. With just six months remaining on his current deal, Van Dijk, along with vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold and forward Mohamed Salah, will be free to negotiate with foreign clubs in January.