Kuyt Urges Liverpool to Extend Van Dijk and Salah Contracts Without Delay | OneFootball

Why Winning the League Under Arne Slot Would Mean Everything to Liverpool

There’s something poetic about timing in football. Sometimes it makes legends, sometimes it leaves scars. For Dirk Kuyt, the timing was never quite right. He gave Liverpool six solid years. Ran his heart out. Scored goals. Fought. But he never got to lift the Premier League trophy.

So, when Kuyt says winning the title this season would be “absolutely massive”, he knows exactly what it means. He’s not romanticising it. He’s lived through the weight of that drought, and now he sees a fellow Dutchman on the brink of something unforgettable.

“For Arne to win the Premier League in his first season in charge will be something no one will ever forget,” Kuyt told James Pearce in The Athletic.

Slot isn’t just leading a title charge. He’s carrying the city’s raw hunger, its bottled-up celebrations from 2020, and the pressure of following a figure like Klopp. That’s no small feat. Yet somehow, he’s made it all look natural.

Slot’s Revolution: Fast, Sharp, Effective

You’d think replacing Jurgen Klopp would come with a grace period. Instead, Arne Slot has Liverpool purring again—top of the league by 12 points, needing just 16 from their last nine games. That’s dominance.

Pearce put it clearly: “Going out of the Champions League and losing the final was disappointing but it means there’s now complete focus on the Premier League and giving everything so they can lift that trophy at Anfield on May 25.”

Slot has injected structure without stifling flair. He’s taken a team built by Klopp and turned it into something that reflects his own ideas. Kuyt, who observed Slot up close at Feyenoord, called it early. But even he didn’t expect this level of success, this fast.

“Nobody expected it to go this well, besides maybe Arne himself,” said Kuyt. “He’s managed to build on Jurgen’s achievements and do it his way.”

There’s a lot of talk about managers needing time. Slot’s dismantled that theory. His Liverpool sides echo the compact pressing of AZ and the slick transitions of Feyenoord. Except now, he’s doing it with some of the world’s best players.

Dutch Core Driving Liverpool’s Title Push

There’s something quietly powerful about Liverpool’s Dutch contingent. Kuyt, Van Dijk, Gravenberch, Gakpo—and now Slot on the touchline. It’s more than a coincidence. It’s a philosophy taking root.

Van Dijk has returned to his dominant best. Injuries and doubts behind him, he’s the calm in Liverpool’s storm again. Kuyt wants him to stay and lead this new era.

“Virgil leads in such a great way and he’s playing at his best level,” he told Pearce. “Everyone who likes Liverpool wants these players to sign new contracts tomorrow.”

Same goes for Mo Salah, of course, but the Dutch influence runs deep right now.

Ryan Gravenberch is a case study in timing and trust. From struggling for minutes at Bayern to becoming Slot’s midfield anchor at just 22, his transformation speaks to good management—and patience.

“People get even stronger when times are hard,” Kuyt said, reflecting on Gravenberch’s journey. “Arne knew him well… and has managed to get the best.”

Then there’s Cody Gakpo, second only to Salah in goals this season. His adjustment period is over, and his attacking instincts are finally being unleashed.

“That position on the left, cutting inside to shoot, is what he really likes,” said Kuyt. “It’s where he’s best.”

Between Van Dijk’s leadership, Gravenberch’s engine and Gakpo’s goals, Slot has a core he trusts—and one that’s delivering when it matters.

More Than a Trophy: What This Title Would Actually Mean

There’s no hiding behind clichés. This would be the title. Liverpool fans waited three decades to be crowned champions, only for a pandemic to lock them indoors when the moment finally came.

“It was a bad time for people all over the world, but especially for Liverpool supporters because they couldn’t enjoy the success properly,” Kuyt said.

So when James Pearce wrote, “For Arne to win the Premier League in his first season in charge will be something no one will ever forget,” it wasn’t just about football. It was about closure. About getting that parade. That roar at Anfield. That night in the pubs.

“We’ve all seen the parades around the city after Champions League wins,” Kuyt said. “But to win the Premier League I feel will mean even more to the people. It will be crazy both in the stadium and around the city.”

This isn’t just another line on the honours list. It’s a chance to feel it this time. To be part of something shared and loud and proud. That matters more than we often admit.

Kuyt’s Return to Anfield: Legend Among Legends

Even with a full-time job battling relegation in Belgium, Kuyt made time to return to Merseyside for the Liverpool Legends match against Chelsea. The event wasn’t just a nostalgia trip—it was a celebration of identity and connection.

Playing in front of a packed Anfield, Kuyt joined names like Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch, and Sami Hyypiä under the management of Sir Kenny Dalglish. Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners, with Crouch scoring both goals.

Kuyt didn’t find the net himself, but it didn’t matter. Just being there meant something.

“Anfield always feels like home to me,” he told The Athletic. “To be back in the dressing room with the lads, chat with the people on the streets and play in front of a full house… it’s what I love to do.”

He wasn’t joking when he said he was “ready for 90” minutes, even if Dalglish had other ideas. More importantly, he highlighted why the match matters beyond the pitch.

“The cause we’re doing it for is really important,” Kuyt said. “Liverpool is a big example to clubs across the world in terms of giving back to the community.”

The event supported the LFC Foundation, which helped over 127,000 people last year and is aiming to reach 500,000 annually by 2030. The Legends series has now raised more than £7.5 million.

For Kuyt, these occasions are about giving back—but also staying connected. He’s still part of Liverpool’s story, even as new chapters unfold.

If Liverpool finish the job this season, it won’t be ‘just’ a Premier League win. It’ll be the one that heals the wound left by 2020. It’ll be a celebration finally let loose. And it’ll be the moment Arne Slot moves from successor to icon. As Kuyt said, no one will ever forget it.