These were the last words he said…

Virgil Van Dijk has signed a new deal at Liverpool that will keep him at Anfield for at least another two years.

The club captain and stalwart at the back for Arne Slot’s side lead Liverpool out for the 100th time on Sunday in the late victory over West Ham in which the Dutchman scored the winner. It will be music to the ears of Liverpool fans all over the globe after the news of Mo Salah putting pen to paper last week and the fact that Liverpool are now just 6 points away from their 20th and record equalling league title.

As per David Ornstein from The Athletic, Van Dijk will earn around £400kpw with no break or relause claused in the deal. With input from James Pearce also, Ornstein went on to outline how Van Dijk’s desire to continue competing for the biggest honours was matched by the wages on the table from Liverpool along with their plans for the summer in terms of transfers and the aim of remaining on top for the years to come.

Throughout the season Van Dijk has remained coy on his future and has focused his attention to performances on the pitch. He’s not at any stage got involved with off the field antics that may have encouraged other clubs to rock the boat and try to make attempts for his signature, something that will only reinforce the Liverpool fans adjuration for their colossal captain. Van Dijk has made no secret of his love for the people of the city, the city itself, the club and it’s fans however supporters could be forgiven if they began to feel nervous when neither him nor Salah had agreed terms on a new contract up until last week.

With just 7 games to go in the league (before the victory over West Ham on Sunday), the Anfield faithful couldn’t have been blamed for being stuck in two minds about how the club were to progress next year. A rapidly approaching 2nd Premier League title for The Reds may have been met with a huge rebuild required in the summer had Van Dijk and Salah been allowed to leave for free. Not only losing two world class operators at either end of the pitch but also arguably the two main leaders in the dressing room, it may have been extremely difficult for Liverpool to stage a proper defence of the title next year.

However, with both Van Dijk and Salah now due to stay and the sounds coming from the club and trusted sources that FSG are prepared to invest heavily to maintain the clubs stature as the number one on these shores, supporters have every right to feel buoyant about the prospects for next season and beyond.

Van Dijk and his Liverpool team-mates will now look to finish the campaign as strongly as possible and hopefully (with a bit of help from Ipswich) they will tie up the Premier League title this weekend. If not, then it will be next week that Liverpool will hope number 20 is finally secured by either Arsenal losing to Crystal Palace or Liverpool overcoming Spurs providing they beat Leicester this weekend.

Either way, it’s now only a matter of time before the Dutchman is the first from his country to lift the Premier League as a captain. The days forthcoming should be cherished forever by those who support Liverpool.