Virgil van Dijk has urged his Liverpool teammates to 'step up' as the club prepares for the departure of key senior figures Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson this summer. The Liverpool captain emphasized the need for younger players to embrace leadership roles following the exit of two experienced dressing-room voices.
Leadership Exodus at Anfield
Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, who together have 18 years of Anfield experience, are set to leave Liverpool this summer. Their departures follow that of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left for Real Madrid last year at age 26 after serving as vice-captain under Jurgen Klopp. Van Dijk acknowledged that the dressing room is losing significant know-how and called on less experienced players to take on greater responsibility next season.
“Players have to step up. You grow into that role or you already have it in you. That is something players have to show even more next season,” Van Dijk said. “After the World Cup, in pre-season, it will be an interesting development in terms of how the manager sees it as well. And then we have to tackle the season in the best way possible and not have a season like we have had this season again.”
Van Dijk's Call for Responsibility
Despite Liverpool winning the Premier League under Arne Slot, the season has been marked by significant change. Van Dijk stopped short of calling for another reset but stressed the need for players to step up. “The leadership boys are falling apart – in terms of players leaving – so players have to step up and see what the guys making the decisions are going to do. But I’m pretty sure everyone has the right intentions to make us, as a club, competitive, and hopefully not have a season like we’re having this season.”
Focus on Champions League Qualification
With five games remaining, Liverpool are close to securing a top-five finish and Champions League football for 2026-27, but Van Dijk remains focused. “The focus is now on finishing the season in the best way possible. I think you come to the decisive period now, so if it is slipping away you are playing against very difficult opponents and you can get knocked out – not that that is the Liverpool standard I’m used to or we should be used to, not at all. But the reality is we are playing five more games and we have to try to get qualification for Champions League done. It’s definitely not the standards what I expect and envision myself being a Liverpool player – just to qualify for the Champions League.”
New Leadership Candidates
Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ibrahima Konate are expected to step up within the leadership group, with Szoboszlai widely tipped to become vice-captain. Van Dijk declined to confirm the appointment but said, “Vice-captain? I don’t want to say but I definitely have my opinion and I always share my opinion. Focus is now on finishing the season in the best way possible, the poor season we are having. The win against Everton was a good start. Five more games and the focus on what’s next and that’s the World Cup. And then focus on a good holiday – because that’s needed – and then focus on pre-season and making next season successful.”
