Virgil van Dijk puts Liverpool future on hold until late season

Virgil van Dijk said he will put his Liverpool future on hold until the end of the season and “enjoy the ride” of the Premier League title race after helping Arne Slot’s team to a 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates.

Liverpool moved to within a point of defending champions and league leaders Manchester City by twice fighting back from a goal behind to emerge with a point against the Gunners.

Van Dijk, who escaped a booking for kicking out at Arsenal’s Kai Havertz in the opening minutes, cancelled out Bukayo Saka’s ninth-minute opener with a 17th-minute header.

Mohamed Salah then earned Liverpool a point with an 81st-minute leveller after Mikel Merino had restored Arsenal’s leader moments before half-time.

Van Dijk, Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season with each still to sign a new deal.

And speaking after the game at the Emirates, Van Dijk said he is in no rush to negotiate a new contract at the club.

“I’m very calm,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports. “Let’s see what happens towards the end of the season.

“I’m enjoying my football, physically and mentally. Keep enjoying the game because it’s a beautiful game that we play and I play.”

Salah’s late goal ensured that Liverpool avoided a second league defeat of the season and kept them close to City, who they face at Anfield on Dec 1.

Van Dijk, a title winner with Liverpool in 2019-20, said that a point against Mikel Arteta’s side is a good result in the context of the title race.

“Listen, it’s a very tough place to come,” he said.

“They created a solid team and make it difficult for everyone. To come back twice is a good thing, we take the point and we move.

“You play here in London, they have the fans behind them and they created some momentum. You have to be ready to fight because you will have some tough moments. One point and we take it.

“It sounds very cliché, but it’s better than losing. There were opportunities for us to try and win the game. The first half was difficult. We came out well in the second half and pushed for the equaliser.

“I think someone said to me last year, Man City lost here and they won the league. We’re in October. I’ve read so many things that Arsenal are out of the title race if they lose.

“We’re in the business where you can be on top one week and then not. We are in October and let’s see what it brings us at the end of the season. Enjoy the ride.”

Liverpool manager Slot paid tribute to his players for proving their resilience and “energy” after claiming a point, despite having one day fewer of rest than Arsenal following Champions League duty in midweek.

“Going two times behind against a very strong Arsenal team and to get a point is pleasing to see,” Slot told reporters. “Away game in Europe, one day less to prepare and two times behind with the fans so loud and coming back so strongly — it’s very pleasing to have the energy in the second-half. We looked really strong.

“You ask yourself: ‘Can you get a result in a difficult game away like this one?’ To see we can compete with such a strong Arsenal team in their stadium is very good, but where that will take us at the end of the season, I can’t tell you.”

Salah’s late goal, his eighth in the league so far this season, moved him level with Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler on 163 Premier League goals to take eighth spot in the league’s all-time scoring charts.

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry sits in seventh position with 175 goals, and Slot said that Salah’s biggest quality is his reliability when the team needs him to deliver.

“He’s [Salah] available, top players have that,” Slot said. “They are always available and show up, just like last week against Chelsea when he showed up with a goal and assist.

“For a big club like Liverpool, you need these players who make a difference and Mo is that.

“But I also must say that Ibrahima Konaté was also very good for us today. He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, but he is always close to the man of the match and it was a very good performance today.”