Liverpool players are all geared up for Euro 2024 after completing their pre-tournament duties.
All in all, the Reds have 10 players travelling to star for their countries in Germany. Some will have grand designs on winning it.
One who that will likely apply to is Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. Van Dijk is coming off the back of a superb season at Anfield and will lead the Netherlands this summer.
The 32-year-old showed off his importance to his country with a goal off the bench against Canada on Thursday, and Van Dijk was on the scoresheet again on Monday.
As the Netherlands’ one truly world-class player, the Reds defender will be crucial if Ronald Koeman’s side can make an impact in Germany. Thankfully, Virgil is heading into the competition in tremendous form.
Dutch media deliver Virgil van Dijk vs Iceland display
As far as defenders go, Van Dijk is relatively prolific. The Dutchman has bagged 23 goals for Liverpool across 270 games. That marks him out as one of the more goal-getting defenders in the club’s history.
For his country, Van Dijk’s record is even better. On Monday, he headed home his ninth strike for the Netherlands in 68 caps.
Clearly, Virgil is not in the team to get on the scoresheet – Koeman should be leaving that more to the likes of Cody Gakpo – but it’s a real helping hand to know that he can.
And with Gakpo not able to find the net against Iceland, it was left to his Liverpool teammate to get the goal that ultimately killed the game.
READ MORE: Arsenal’s William Saliba raves about the ‘aura’ of Virgil van Dijk
Netherlands were already 1-0 up by the time Van Dijk pounced in the 49th minute. But his goal allowed them to stroll to a 4-0 win in the second-half.
According to Dutch outlet AD, the goal was a ‘simple’ one for the Liverpool man, who nodded home a well-placed headed pass from Manchester City’s Nathan Ake.
Van Dijk seems to have impressed at the other end of the pitch as well. Liverpool’s No.4 is described as being ‘not once in trouble’ in a game which the Netherlands appear to have dominated.
Also hailed for being ‘ever solid,’ Van Dijk collects a seven out of 10 rating and is urged to take this kind of imperious form with him to Germany.
Virgil van Dijk underlines why he needs a new Liverpool contract
The big news surrounding Van Dijk at the moment is that he now only has one year to run on his Liverpool contract.
But why the Liverpool owners are allowing this situation to drag on is a little bit of a mystery.
Obviously, Van Dijk is not getting any younger. He’ll turn 33 before Euro 2024 is finished. But it’s also clear that the former Southampton man is right on top of his game.
He was mightily unlucky to lose out on the fans’ vote for Liverpool’s player of the season and is also still right at the heart of his national team, too.
It’s true that things could change in a year’s time and perhaps Van Dijk will look ready to move on by then.
For the time being though, we’d suggest that Liverpool are dangerously close to making a really poor decision. This is not just a purple patch, the Van Dijk of old is back. The Reds would do well to recognise and reward it.