Liverpool and Van Dijk have a decision to make

Liverpool must decide whether to extend Virgil van Dijk’s contract, which expires next summer, or prepare for the captain to leave. The 35-year-old says he is not in a rush to settle his future, but his comments suggest he would consider staying; the choice matters because he remains a leading defender and a central figure in the team.

Van Dijk has played every Premier League minute since the start of last season and is forming a strong partnership with summer signing Jeremy Jacquet. This season he averages 60.7 successful passes and 7.1 clearances per 90 minutes, with a 75% duel success rate; he earns an estimated £400,000 a week. Liverpool have younger centre-backs, but losing his experience and leadership would leave a significant gap, while Joe Gomez is also out of contract this summer.