Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has admitted that Reds captain Virgil van Dijk is a “priceless” asset for Arne Slot – as he compared his influence in the dressing room to former Anfield skipper Graeme Souness.
The Dutchman’s legacy on Merseyside is already secure after eight memorable seasons, during which he has won a clean sweep of major honors including the Premier League and Champions League. In his second campaign with the armband, the 33-year-old looks almost certain to earn a second English top flight crown in the coming months.
As his side sits 12 points ahead of nearest challengers Arsenal at the summit, it remains to be seen whether this will prove to be Van Dijk’s last dance with the club amid speculation over his future. Alongside fellow Liverpool stalwarts Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the center-back will be free to depart the club for nothing at the end of the campaign.
Having entered the final months of his current contract at Anfield, the Netherlands international has remained coy over the prospect of renewing his terms. In fact, after the Reds were knocked out of the Champions League against PSG last week, the defender acknowledged that he still has “no idea” over whether he will be at Liverpool next season.
Now, Kop hero Lawrenson has given his verdict on what his former club stands to lose – if its captain is allowed to depart this summer. Comparing Van Dijk’s influence in the dressing room to Liverpool legend Souness, Lawrenson recalled the almighty void that the Scotsman’s exit left when he departed the club for Sampdoria back in 1984.
The ex-Match of the Day pundit, who won three league championships and the European cup alongside Souness, exclusively told Liverpool.com: “Graeme, for me was just behind Kenny in terms of what he did in the team. He was brilliant. We actually bought two players, just because we had to.
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“There was no way we could get another Graeme Souness. Basically, the captain, Van Dijk, he runs the dressing room,” he continued, as he drew parallels between the two greats for their outstanding leadership attributes. “He’s not just an outstanding player. People like him are priceless.
“You just know with him, he looks after everybody. If they’re not doing it, he’s on them, if they’re playing well, he’s with them. The communication between him and the manager makes the job of the manager a little bit easier.”
Lawrenson also made the argument that his old side could face the prospect of losing as many as five senior players before the start of next season. Amid the uncertainty of whether any of Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Salah will stay, question marks remain over the long-term futures of stars including Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota heading into the summer months.
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Giving his verdict on what business might be conducted by Liverpool during the offseason, he asserted: “I’m looking at it thinking ‘we might lose five players’. And we’re not just looking at it thinking ‘we’ll lose five who aren’t that good’. You’re losing five players who are top, top players.”
“But this is the first time ever that nothing’s come out of the club. Not even a whisper. These lads can sit on their contracts until the start of next season so, if you’re the manager and you’re trying to make replacements to the team, it going to be really difficult. So I think Slot’s job, from being a job that was absolutely fantastic to take, is becoming very, very difficult.”
As for Alexander-Arnold, Lawrenson is convinced that his former employers would miss the right-back if he was to depart his boyhood club at the end of the term. He added: “I think Trent will go. You can’t blame him, he’s won everything there is to win at the club. He’s done great. People say he’s not great defensively but he gives us so much going forward. He’s such a good player as well.
“There is no other right-back in the league who is basically a midfield player, whose passing range is just brilliant. You can bring someone else in but they won’t be like Trent – on the ball he’s just sensation. Every full-back gets beat, it’s the way that it is. But he will be a big, big miss.”
