Phil Thompson's prediction for Liverpool contract 'domino' after Virgil van Dijk comments
Phil Thompson believes that Virgil van Dijk could hold the key to Liverpool tying down Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah to new deals.
Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Salah are all into the final year of their contracts at Anfield, and the situation will continue to hang over the club for as long as it remains unresolved.
Liverpool has started the season in excellent fashion, winning three of three Premier League matches to sit level with Manchester City at the top of the table, but a lot of the discussion around the club's fortunes is dominated by the contract situation which surrounds its three most important players.
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Liverpool legend Thompson believes that Alexander-Arnold and Salah could be more likely to extend their contracts at Anfield if they see Van Dijk doing the same.
Thompson said: “We have made a good start [to the season] and people are talking about how well we have played, but then it’s, 'Trent has not signed, Virgil has not signed, Mo has not signed'. If we can get our captain to sign a contract, it may be kickstart the other two to do likewise.”
Van Dijk publicly revealed on international duty that he wants to remain at Liverpool for the next two years at least, as he confirmed he wants to continue to play at the highest level going into the 2026 World Cup.
Addressing his comments after the Netherlands' semi-final exit at Euro 2024, when he appeared to suggest he was considering his future at international level, Van Dijk said: “At both teams (the Netherlands and Liverpool) I am still Virgil van Dijk, the big leader! And I certainly want to remain that for the next two years. I am human, I have emotions too. You start thinking all kinds of things. Especially just after a game like the elimination (by England) in the very last minute.
“I also understand that it came across unclear on how I stood in all this, because after the match I was so disappointed and full of emotion. It perhaps came across as if it had been my last international match. I did have doubts that night and I did hint at that.
“It's very good that I went on holiday the next day, was able to spend time with my children, my family, which is the most important thing in my life. I was able to share it and then very quickly things calmed down.”