Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson believes that his successor, Virgil van Dijk, could play at the top level for another six or seven years amid the wait for the Dutchman to agree a new contract at Anfield.

Henderson left Liverpool at the same age van Dijk is now (33) to join the Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq and he now plays for Ajax in the Eredivisie. But while he was set to play a reduced role if he stayed on Merseyside, Van Dijk is still very much at the peak of his powers.

"Top," Henderson told Amazon Prime when he was asked where agreeing a new contract with Van Dijk should sit among the Liverpool priorities. "I feel like Virgil could play until 39, 40 if he wanted to. So, for me, if they give him a contract for two, three, four years, it would be a pretty good bit of business for the club."

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"Yeah, I could play definitely, in my opinion as well, for another three or four years at least on the highest level," Van Dijk said later in the same video, seemingly agreeing with Henderson. "So, we’ll see what the future brings."

As things stand, Van Dijk will be out of contract when this season ends. But the Liverpool ace doesn't want to move on and is happy with the Reds where things are going very well under Arne Slot.

In addition to Van Dijk, Liverpool also needs to tie down Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Salah is 32 but is arguably having his best overall season at Anfield. At 26, Alexander-Arnold's best years should still be ahead of him.

Liverpool.com says: Van Dijk is 33 and will be 34 next summer but he doesn't look like a player who is set to decline. The Dutchman didn't start playing at the top level of the Premier League and the Champions League until he was about 26, unlike some stars who begin playing 60 games a year as a teenager. As a result, his number of miles on the clock should be lower than others of a similar age.