How on earth would Arne Slot’s Liverpool cope without two bonafide Premier League greats in Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk?
That was the question occupying the minds and dominating the water-cooler conversations of many a Liverpool fan over the last few months. The potential departures of both their top scorer and their captain casting a cloud over an otherwise sunny Merseyside sky.
Fortunately, it is a question the Liverpool faithful can now kick down the road for another couple of years.
Because, after Mo Salah signed a new two-year deal at Anfield last week, Virgil van Dijk committed his future to the Premier League champions-in-waiting.
With Liverpool potentially saving themselves up to £200 million in high-cost replacements, Slot’s hopes of a sustained period of success in the Reds dugout suddenly look a lot more realistic.
And as one of the reported Van Dijk successors under consideration endured a nightmare evening in Newcastle – less than 24 hours before the Dutchman put pen to paper – tying down their £75 million superstar feels increasingly like a potentially milestone moment in Slot’s journey.
Marc Guehi disaster as Liverpool confirm Virgil van Dijk stay
According to BBC Sport, had Van Dijk opted to bring the curtain down on a successful spell on Merseyside, Liverpool may have turned to Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace.
The six-time European champions wanted a defender with a proven track record playing as a left-sided central defender in a back four. That is the role Guehi has made his own for Palace, and hopes to do for England under Thomas Tuchel.
Now, one bad game does not equal a bad defender. Even Van Dijk has endured his share of off-days, albeit fewer than most.
Yet, in the week in which Van Dijk chose to stay put, Guehi’s error-riddled display during a 5-0 humiliation at St James’ Park will have done little to quell the suggestion that replacing Van Dijk like-for-like was an almost impossible task.
Newcastle saw no fewer than four bids – including one of an eye-watering £65 million – rejected in pursuit of Guehi last summer. It will be interesting indeed to see if The Magpies return with a fifth a year later.
If Wednesday’s trip to Tyneside represented an audition of sorts in front of his long-time admirers, it was one Guehi failed miserably.
Guehi nets another own goal against long-time suitors Newcastle United
Bizarely, as Guehi turned Harvey Barnes’ cross into the net during a first half in which Newcastle racked up four goals without reply, a defender valued at around the same world-record fee Liverpool paid for Van Dijk took doubled his tally of own goals against Eddie Howe’s high-flyers during the 2024/25 campaign.
“[Newcastle dominated] was right from the beginning,” Guehi sighed, Alexander Isak getting in on the act after the interval to cap a 5-0 win every bit as comprehensive as the scoreline suggests.
“You could just tell they were the better team. They wanted it more. They were winning their duels. We spoke before the game about energy, winning your duels and getting up to people. I don’t think we did ourselves justice with that.”
Guehi, some Palace fans will argue, was not exactly helped by a catastrophic gameplan. Oliver Glasner appeared to instruct his defenders to press Newcastle high.
As a mobile, free-flowing side simply knocked the ball around their bedraggled visitors with ease as Guehi was left chasing shadows.
Who knows, one day down the line, Guehi might yet blossom into a central defender every bit as consistent and complete as Liverpool’s totemic, 6ft 5ins powerhouse.
For the time being, however, Virgil van Dijk feels as irreplaceable and untouchable as he ever has.
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