I’ll be honest, I’m completely with Graeme Souness on this one.
Liverpool have a huge decision to make over Virgil van Dijk’s future, but I’m not convinced we should be looking at his age and automatically assuming his best days are behind him.
At 35, nobody is suggesting Van Dijk can play forever. Football catches up with everybody eventually.
But have we really reached the point where Liverpool should be preparing to say goodbye to their captain?
Souness certainly doesn’t think so.
The former Liverpool captain has urged the club to offer van Dijk another year at Anfield, with the option of a second, and described him as a “Rolls-Royce of a player.” Speaking to Mirror Football, he also pushed back against the suggestion that van Dijk never fully recovered from his serious knee injury.
And I think Liverpool supporters should listen to that.
“It’s a lazy thing to say he’s not the same player”
Souness made an interesting point about the criticism van Dijk received after his devastating knee injury in the Merseyside derby in October 2020.
Jordan Pickford’s challenge left the Liverpool defender with an ACL injury that ruled him out for the remainder of that season.
There were understandable questions about whether he would ever return to his previous level.
But Souness believes the criticism that followed was unfair.
> “It’s a lazy thing to say he’s not the same player. I didn’t see that.”
That is a strong statement, but I understand exactly where he is coming from.
van Dijk returned to Liverpool, helped the club win major trophies and continued to be one of the most influential centre-backs in the Premier League.
He has not needed to be the fastest defender on the pitch to remain effective. His reading of the game, positioning, aerial ability and composure have always been among his greatest strengths.
And those qualities don’t suddenly disappear because a player reaches his mid-thirties.
If anything, experience can make a defender even more valuable.
Souness also made a point about Konaté
One of the more interesting parts of Souness’ assessment was his suggestion that playing alongside Ibrahima Konaté had sometimes made things difficult for van Dijk.
He said:
“I think Konaté was a difficult player to be playing with.”
That’s an opinion worth discussing, particularly because centre-back partnerships are about much more than the individual performances of the two players.
One defender might need to cover space behind his partner, while the other has to decide when to step forward and challenge an attacker. If those decisions aren’t synchronised, both players can end up looking worse than they really are.
van Dijk has often been at his best when the partnership alongside him gives him the confidence to organise the defensive line and deal with danger before it develops.
And Liverpool’s emerging partnership between van Dijk and Jérémy Jacquet gives the captain another opportunity to show what he can do.
I’m not saying Jacquet is automatically the perfect partner, but the early signs have been encouraging.
For me, Liverpool should be looking at how van Dijk performs alongside the defenders available to him now, rather than judging his future solely on the difficulties of previous seasons.
“He’s got better the longer he’s been at Liverpool”
This was my favourite part of Souness’ comments.
He believes van Dijk has actually improved during his time at Anfield, explaining that his experience has helped him anticipate danger earlier.
That makes sense.
A defender who understands the game can sometimes compensate for a loss of pace by recognising danger before an opponent has even received the ball.
van Dijk has spent years facing the best attackers in England and Europe. He knows when to step out, when to hold his position and how to organise the players around him.
And let’s not forget what he brings beyond his individual defending.
He’s Liverpool’s captain.
He sets standards, organises the back line and provides leadership in difficult moments. Replacing that influence would be another challenge for a club already trying to build its next generation of defenders.
Liverpool can recruit a younger centre-back, but finding somebody who combines van Dijk’s quality, experience and authority is a very different task.
That’s why I wouldn’t be in a rush to let him go.
A one-year deal with an option makes sense
This is where I think Souness has got it right.
He isn’t suggesting Liverpool should offer van Dijk another massive long-term contract and ignore the risks.
His proposal is straightforward: give him another year, with an option for a second.
That would give Liverpool some flexibility while recognising what Van Dijk continues to contribute.
Of course, the club would need to consider his wages, workload and how his performances develop. There is no guarantee that a player will maintain his level indefinitely, regardless of how good he has been.
But Liverpool also need to think about what happens if they allow him to leave too soon.
They would lose their captain, their most experienced defender and one of the players who understands the club’s expectations better than almost anyone else in the squad.
For me, that is a risk worth taking seriously.
A shorter extension could provide a sensible middle ground: reward van Dijk for what he is still giving Liverpool without committing the club to a lengthy deal.
Liverpool aren’t ready to replace everything van Dijk brings
I like the direction Liverpool’s defence is taking.
Jacquet has been encouraging, Ronald Araújo provides valuable flexibility, and Giovanni Leoni’s eventual return should give Andoni Iraola more options.
But those players still have different levels of experience, and none can simply be expected to replace van Dijk’s influence overnight.
Liverpool need to plan for life after their captain. That is unavoidable.
But planning for the future doesn’t mean pushing an important player out before the time is right.
van Dijk can help the younger defenders develop while continuing to contribute on the pitch. If he maintains his level, there is a strong argument for keeping him around.
And if his workload needs managing, Liverpool should use their defensive depth to give him the occasional rest rather than expecting him to play every minute.
That would benefit both van Dijk and the club.
I’m with Souness on this one
I understand why Liverpool have to be careful. van Dijk is 35, and every contract decision needs to account for what happens next.
But I don’t believe age alone should decide this.
Souness has reminded us that van Dijk remains a defender whose intelligence and experience are hugely valuable. His recovery from that terrible injury was remarkable, and his contribution to Liverpool has been extraordinary.
I would give him another year, with an option for a second.
That gives Liverpool time to develop their younger defenders while allowing van Dijk to continue leading the team if his performances justify it.
He has earned that consideration.
Liverpool should never make decisions based purely on sentiment, but they shouldn’t ignore what they still have in front of them either.
Virgil van Dijk has given this club so much. If he can continue performing at the level we’re seeing, I see no reason to rush him towards the exit.
As Souness put it, he’s a Rolls-Royce.
And I’m not ready to park him in the garage just yet.
By Jamie (The Kopite View)
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