How Virgil van Dijk went to the next level under Arne Slot – and why Liverpool’s aquacycling leader wants to stay
Let’s get started with some debates for the dinner table as you polish off the last of the turkey butts and other Christmas leftovers this weekend.
Is Virgil van Dijk in the best form of his career? And where does he rank in the pantheon of great Premier League defenders?
At 33, many would suspect he is just as good – if not better – than his supposed peak in Liverpool’s title triumph in 2019/20. With the Reds moving away from the contenders and pretenders in this year’s battle for supremacy, the argument gains considerable weight.
There is an elephant that follows Van Dijk around the room in every debate and that is his contract, which expires at the end of this season. We’ll discuss that in due course, but for now Liverpool fans are enjoying seeing their captain back to his very best.
On Friday, Van Dijk marked seven years at Liverpool following his £75million move from Southampton. A quick search through the archives revealed the usual suspects of armchair pundits calling it a rip-off.
In retrospect that’s easy, but in retrospect £75 million for a man of this stature is a huge steal. Even though he’s on the wrong side of 30, name a defender in the world who brings what Van Dijk does to this Liverpool team.
Virgil van Dijk is in commanding form for Liverpool, who have an impressive lead in the Premier League title race
The Dutchman was virtually unbeatable during the Reds’ march to the title in 2020. His form saw him narrowly miss out on the Ballon d’Or and claim the award for Europe’s best player.
Friday marked seven years since he joined from Southampton for £75million
His Reds career started on a high, scoring a last-gasp winner in the Merseyside derby against Everton with a towering header, becoming the first Liverpool player to score past his city rival on debut since Bill White in 1901.
Apart from a season-ruining injury in 2020/21 – he made just five league appearances that campaign and reigning champions Liverpool finished 17 points behind Manchester City, which is saying a lot – he has hardly looked back since that first week on Merseyside.
Asked whether his captain is better than ever, boss Arne Slot said on Friday: ‘It is difficult to judge because I was not there when Virgil was close to winning the Ballon d’Or in 2019. He is a great player and has spent so many years for Liverpool.
‘Unfortunately he was out for almost a season due to an injury and this football club did not benefit from that. So that probably tells you how much of an impact he’s had here. I can only tell you about my experiences with him.
‘And it’s not just what you see – because you see all the games and he’s excellent in that – but he also has such a big impact in training. He is the vocal leader of the team.
“Every time we start a drill, he’s on top of his teammates and leading by example. So for me he has been excellent so far and I just hope he can continue to show that in games and training for as long as he is with us.”
Lock is to Liverpool what Sir Alastair Cook or Sir Geoffrey Boycott were to England in cricket: the king of the straight bat. He always answers all questions about contracts without succumbing to the pressure, and does not give any sound to the media.
But behind it, when the cameras are off and there are no hungry reporters present, the Dutch head coach is desperate for his captain to sign the new contract. Before Liverpool, Slot didn’t believe in the concept of one definitive leader in a group – but that has changed now.
Arne Slot has been effusive in his praise for his compatriot since arriving at Anfield in the summer
He told Dutch TV last month: ‘Before I worked with Virgil, I always said that I no longer believe in the concept of a leader. But Virgil is someone who constantly makes sure the guys are there and is the leader in coaching. He sets a good example in training and in the gym.’
He is always blowing the whistle during team meetings and regularly makes his rounds around the breakfast tables – the team all eats together in the morning, a new rule implemented by Slot – to check that everyone is happy and focused on the task at hand is.
Van Dijk would be the big brother of the camp and a more hands-on leader than Jordan Henderson or James Milner. He has solid relationships with everyone in the building, whether it be coaches, the media team or the medical staff.
He sees the captaincy as an honor but also as an important role – and wants to challenge people in a positive way every day. In terms of friendship, he is closest to Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate – which helps as they are his defensive partners – but he has a strong bond with everyone.
His leadership extends beyond Liverpool. Van Dijk wrote a personal letter to each team member of the Dutch participation in the European Championship, each with a handwritten message of inspiration, encouragement and motivation.
After England knocked out the Netherlands in the last four – Ollie Watkins with that late goal in Dortmund – Van Dijk said his dreams were ‘shattered’ and it took him a while to get over it. But even if he turns 35 during the 2026 World Cup, there is no reason why the defender cannot be present.
That’s because of his commitment to recovery, his buzzword in interviews. He always likes to give time to the media and, like Slot, has a smart poker face. Van Dijk rarely breaks with his tunnel vision mentality of ‘match by match’ and focus on sports science.
Van Dijk is a big believer in ice bathing and his interest in this side of the game may stem from his time with Amsterdam physiotherapist Sjoerd Sluijs during his injury four years ago.
Despite his advanced years, Van Dijk remains in top condition thanks to his commitment to recovery
There is much debate about whether he or Mohamed Salah is more indispensable to Liverpool
The 33-year-old has his own private team to help with nutrition, body recovery and fitness work. He regularly visits saunas and has taken up aquacycling, essentially an underwater exercise bike. Van Dijk is often spotted after matches with an interestingly colored recovery shake or smoothie.
Another intriguing debate would be who is more irreplaceable than him or Salah – both of whom want to stay at the club and just need to find the right deal, which is a nuanced and complex process.
“The only Liverpool player who will get injured (if he) is Van Dijk,” former left-back John Arne Riise said on Thursday. “If he gets hurt, they could be in trouble. He is so important, not only as a player, but also for the players around him, the confidence he gives.’
All this gives Van Dijk the confidence that he can continue at the top level for a number of years to come. His predecessor as captain, Henderson, said last week: ‘I think Virgil can play until he’s 39 or 40. If they give him a two, three, four year contract that would be a pretty good thing.”
So back to those food coma led debates. A quick poll of fans on social media by Mail Sport yesterday revealed that 60 per cent of fans think he is NOT better than his original peak as the all-conquering Champions League and Premier League winning team. A small but reasonable margin.
However, according to the statistics, he is having his best season at the club. He is making more tackles (1.2) and more interceptions (1.9) per 90 minutes than ever, while his passing accuracy is also at a record high (91.6 percent).
‘It’s been a big change for me. We played in a certain way under Jurgen (Klopp),” he said recently. ‘I have more responsibility for starting attacks and I enjoy it. It’s a surprise for people to see me do it, but it was always there. It’s another string to my bow.’
But the words he said this weekend would have resonated more with Liverpool fans. “I love the club, the club loves me,” he said. ‘As far as I’m concerned, I can at least play at the highest level for another three or four years.’