Crisis over! Virgil van Dijk is back to his best and a new contract is a must – Liverpool FC

Virgil van Dijk is still unrivaled among the world’s leading centre-backs, after a magnificent first season as Liverpool captain.

The departures of Jordan Henderson and James Milner paved the way for Van Dijk to be handed the captaincy last summer, in one of the proudest moments of his career.

All eyes were on how the Dutchman would perform under the added pressure – what we saw was the footballer back to his best.

Peak Van Dijk after a year off

Van Dijk’s appearances in the 2022/23 season. they were, by their own admission, unsatisfactory.

Like many, he lacked intensity and mistakes began to creep into his game, leading some to suggest he had peaked.

Having turned 32 in July and with an ACL injury in the bank, there was no guarantee Van Dijk would ever reach the levels we witnessed between 2018 and 2022.

How wrong we were.

In a season riddled with injury problems to other key players, Van Dijk was an almost ever-present in the Premier League, starting 36 of 38 games.

No Reds player has started more times in the league and no player has had more minutes in all competitions.

While Manchester City and Arsenal were known for their level of control in matches, Liverpool’s games were more chaotic and open, meaning they needed their skipper to be near perfect.

For the vast majority of the campaign, that proved to be the case, with Van Dijk cruising through games and holding the defense together.

No Liverpool player won more of his aerial duels (81.7%) or a higher clearance percentage (81.3%);

There was one high-profile miss with Alisson at Arsenal, but such incidents can happen to any player, and Van Dijk has been about as faultless as a defender can be for most of the 2023/24 campaign.

While others around him began to wither and lose form, the Netherlands captain maintained an extremely high level, but in the end there was only so much one man could do.

In the end, Liverpool ran out of steam and the goals conceded piled up, but it was hard to place much blame on Van Dijk.

League Cup winner legendary moment

If there’s one moment that will forever define Van Dijk’s 2023/24 season, it’s the Carabao Cup winner against Chelsea.

The Liverpool captain had already been cruelly robbed for what looked like the winning goal earlier in the game, but it should not have been denied in extra time.

It was a goal that instantly added to Van Dijk’s legend as he won the game, celebrated in style and lifted the trophy in his first year as captain.

What must not be forgotten is how colossal he was in his all-round performance that day at Wembley.

With Klopp fielding the likes of Bobby Clarke, James McConnell and Jayden Danns, the way Van Dijk organized the troops summed up his greatness.

During 120 minutes of relentless action on Wembley’s big pitch, Van Dijk cleared seven times, won seven of his 10 duels and completed more passes than any other player with 92 (91% accuracy).

Put simply, Klopp’s final season would have been trophyless without him, and his winner was the cherry on top of another defensive masterclass.

The most famous players produce when it is really things – and no player contributed more to Klopp’s eventual trophy triumph than Van Dijk.

The Great Virgin is as important as ever

There are question marks over a number of players this summer, with Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez not quite convincing and Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah not getting any younger.

However, when it comes to Van Dijk, he remains as vital to the cause as ever.

Of course, some pundits didn’t include him in their team of the season – it gets boring picking him after a while! – but again he was the best centre-back in the Premier League.

At 32, others will of course start writing his footballing obituary, and he actually looks as good as he did when he was 28.

Eventually, a long-term replacement will have to be found, and a new defender is essential this summer with Joel Matip leaving and Ibrahima Konate injury-prone, but Arne Slott will know Van Dijk’s importance from the start.

It may even be that he benefits more from his future manager’s less frantic style of play than Klopp’s, leaving him less exposed than before.

The tall Dutchman appears relaxed about his contract situation, although his current deal expires next summer and extending his stay by another two or three years is nothing.

Liverpool’s greatest defender is still at the beginning of his captaincy chapter and expect many more legendary stories to be written before he hangs up his boots.

No Reds player has been better in 2023/24.

Best moment: Goal for the Carabao Cup.

Worst moment: Plot with Alison at Arsenal.

Role next season: Key starter.