Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Liverpool‘s revival under Andoni Iraola has been the rejuvenation of players who had fallen by the wayside last season.
Alexander Isak, for example, has scored six goals from seven games in the Premier League, while Alexis Mac Allister looks like a man reborn in midfield, far more robust and confident in his role as midfield linchpin.
The changes have been subtle, but Liverpool are resurgent, emerging as challengers for Arsenal’s league title while gearing up to challenge for trophies elsewhere.
They need it all to come together, but with Virgil van Dijk back to his monstrous best, there’s every reason to be optimistic about Liverpool’s title-winning chances.
Why Liverpool should extend Van Dijk’s contract
Age is just a number, and Van Dijk is personifying this at the heart of Iraola’s Liverpool backline this season. The 35-year-old has long been a “man mountain” at the back, as recently remarked by pundit Jamie Carragher, but he seems resurgent this year, back to his best in age-belying fashion.
In the Premier League this season, the Netherlands skipper hasn’t missed a minute, so composed and cultured in front of Alisson Becker’s goal. Like a fine wine, he has ripened with age.
However, the legendary centre-half’s future on Merseyside hangs over him like a brooding cloud. Van Dijk is out of contract at the end of the season, and given that he’s not getting any younger, it’s probable that FSG will decide to let him go.
Van Dijk, after all, takes home around £350k per week, and while there is something romantic about extending his contract, set to expire next summer, the decision-makers will be acutely aware of what happened with Mohamed Salah last season.
Van Dijk is irreplaceable, but Liverpool must try. As the all-commanding captain at Anfield, he has overseen numerous title-winning successes. Who to step up and wear the armband?
Dominik Szoboszlai is the obvious choice, promoted to vice-captain this summer, but Liverpool may have completed a more recent signing who could become the leader of this Reds side in the future.
Liverpool have already signed their next captain
Let’s hope Van Dijk sticks around next season. He still has a part to play, and his continued presence at the heart of Iraola’s defensive system could pay dividends for an ambitious side still in transition.
However, there’s no question that the Reds are now well-stocked for the future – especially with a superstar in Jeremy Jacquet fast emerging as one of the club’s finest signings in many years.
Liverpool analyst Sam McGuire has remarked that “Jacquet is already veering into Van Dijk territory“, such has been the magnitude of his performances after finalising his £60m transfer from Rennes.
It feels like, maybe for the first time since Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in a £75m deal back in January 2018, the veteran defender has a partner who is actually elevating his game.
|
Premier League 26/27 (Van Dijk vs Jacquet) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per 90) |
Van Dijk |
Jacquet |
|
Matches (starts) |
8 (8) |
8 (8) |
|
Clean sheets |
4 |
4 |
|
Goals + Assists |
0 + 0 |
0 + 0 |
|
Touches* |
84.9 |
70.0 |
|
Accurate passes* |
64.5 (89%) |
49.6 (89%) |
|
Chances created* |
0.3 |
0.4 |
|
Possession lost* |
8.4 |
8.3 |
|
Ball recoveries* |
3.4 |
3.0 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
2.3 |
4.3 |
|
Clearances* |
7.4 |
3.4 |
|
Duels won* |
4.6 (77%) |
6.0 (70%) |
Liverpool have spent their fair share of money over the past few years, with critics lambasting FSG’s scattergun approach. However, Jacquet does not fall into that category, having produced his share of first-class performances over his first few months on English soil.
Skilled on the ball, tenacious in winning it back and with a scholarly ability to read the game and act as a counterpoint to Van Dijk, there’s no question that Jacquet has the potential to become Liverpool’s next superstar, perhaps even showing that he can take the armband from his skipper when the time comes.
Jacquet already plays with the kind of maturity that so many centre-backs search for fruitlessly across the Premier League. To think that he’s still so raw and inexperienced only speaks toward his world-class potential.
He “quickly emerged as a leader and defensive talisman” in his homeland with Rennes, according to journalist Matt Spiro. Now, Jacquet is establishing himself as Liverpool’s future captain, when Van Dijk hands over the baton.
