Virgil van Dijk has called on a new generation of leaders to step up at Liverpool as the club prepare for big-name exits.
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are set to leave Liverpool in the summer, with both having been key figures in the club’s modern success.
Salah and Roberton have spent nine seasons at Anfield and are part of the Reds’ leadership group. Doubts have also emerged over Alisson’s future, which could see another big presence in the dressing room depart.
Van Dijk has opened up on the transition into next season and called on new members of the side to step up and become leaders. The Liverpool captain also urged the club’s owners to make the right decisions this summer as the Reds aim to improve on a disappointing season.
“You have to ask the question to the guys higher 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 again,” the Dutchman told The Times.
“Players have to step up. You grow into that [leadership] role or you already have it in you. That is something players have to show even more next season.”
“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.”
“We are playing five more games and we have to try to get qualification for Champions League done. It’s definitely not the standards that I expect and envision myself being a Liverpool player — just to qualify for the Champions League.”
