Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup final on Thursday night.
The Reds hammered Tottenham 4-0 at Anfield to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg and will take on Newcastle at Wembley on March 16 as the Merseyside club look to defend their crown.
Last season’s success in the competition was the first trophy lifted by Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool captain and the Dutch defender showed he is up for doing that again in March on Thursday night with his performance.
Van Dijk was feisty with Tottenham’s Richarlison from the off and continued to show the board at Liverpool why he deserves a new contract at Anfield.
There has been talk that a new deal has been agreed between all parties ahead of the Tottenham game and the Netherlands captain has now set those rumours straight.
Everyone is ‘wrong’ about Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool future
Reports on social media earlier this week claimed that Van Dijk had agreed a new deal at Liverpool, but the Dutchman dismissed that when asked after the Reds’ 4-0 Carabao Cup semi-final win over Tottenham on Thursday night.
“What the future brings I have no idea,” the Dutch star told Sky Sports via The Standard. “Anybody who says they know it – they are wrong.”
This response from Van Dijk may worry a few Liverpool fans, but the Reds captain is likely trying to take some pressure off of the club as they work to get other contract situations sorted.
Robbie Fowler has a theory about the three Liverpool stars out of contract in Arne Slot’s squad as the former striker has a feeling that two out of the three may have already agreed a deal, but the club are waiting to see if they can get the final one over the line before making an announcement.
The longer the situation goes on, the more of a worry it will be for everyone associated with Liverpool, and Van Dijk’s performance against Tottenham showed exactly why the 33-year-old needs to remain at Anfield a bit longer.
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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk bossed Tottenham
Van Dijk has been immense for Liverpool this season and continued that against Tottenham on Thursday night.
The centre-back added the final goal of the contest with a lovely header; in addition to completing 93% of his passes, two clearances, four recoveries, one interception and winning three duels.
Van Dijk also organised his Liverpool teammates all night and highlighted once again his importance to Arne Slot.
The Premier League leaders must get this situation wrapped up soon as John Barnes believes Liverpool cannot cope without Virgil van Dijk next season, and everyone at the Reds does not want to be heading into the 2025/26 campaign without their captain.
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