Virgil van Dijk has hinted that discussions over a new Liverpool contract are advancing, with the Dutch defender sounding more hopeful about staying at the club. The 33-year-old’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, and just last month he admitted uncertainty about his long-term future at Anfield.
After Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Fulham on Sunday, Van Dijk gave an update on the status of talks with the club. “There is progress, yeah,” said the Netherlands international. “I don’t know [if I’ll stay], we’ll see. These are internal discussions, and we’ll see.”
Van Dijk also expressed his ongoing affection for the club and its supporters. “I love the club, I love the fans,” he said. “They were there for us again, and we wanted to reward them.” Looking ahead to the next match at Anfield, he added, “I want them to be there on Sunday again and make the stadium an amazing venue like always for us.”
Liverpool captain reflects on Fulham defeat
The loss to Fulham marked just the second time Liverpool had been beaten in the Premier League this season, ending a 25-match unbeaten run in the competition. Despite the setback, Jürgen Klopp’s side still holds an 11-point advantage at the top of the table.
Van Dijk admitted the team’s performance at Craven Cottage fell below expectations. “It was a poor day at the office for all of us,” he said. “There were individual moments that should have been dealt with better. It was not acceptable as a team.”
Longstanding role at Anfield
Van Dijk joined Liverpool in 2018 in a high-profile move from Southampton worth £75 million. Since then, he has played 323 matches for the club and scored 26 goals. His leadership and defensive strength have been pivotal in helping the Reds secure several major trophies, including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and two EFL Cup titles.
In addition to Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also approaching the end of their current contracts, with all three yet to confirm extensions.
