Liverpool hint at new role for Van Dijk as new footage emerges from official channel
Liverpool have hinted that captain Virgil van Dijk could be in line for a new role next season following the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold left the Reds to join Real Madrid earlier this summer, ending a 20-year stay at his boyhood club.
The full-back started at the academy at the age of just six and made his way through the ranks, before winning multiple honours with the senior side, including two Premier League titles and a Champions League.
Van Dijk was also linked with a Liverpool exit throughout last season, but penned a new deal in April to end any rumours of a departure.
Van Dijk to take Liverpool free kicks
When Alexander-Arnold left, Arne Slot didn’t just lose his right-back, but also his main threat from set pieces.
The England international was exceptional over a dead-ball, and seven of his 18 Premier League goals came from free kicks.
During their pre-season camp in Tokyo, Liverpool’s official media channels shared a video of Van Dijk practicing free kicks ahead of the upcoming campaign, with the caption: “Some top strikes from the skipper.”
The Netherlands international used to take them regularly when he was at Celtic, but has rarely been utilised by the Reds due to Alexander-Arnold’s prowess.
Next season, Van Dijk could get the chance to show his free-kick quality and will potentially solve Slot’s problem of who should take them.
Liverpool confident in pursuit of star forward
Meanwhile, Football Insider exclusively revealed that Liverpool are increasingly “confident” of signing Alexander Isak, but he will need to push hard enough to get the deal he wants.
A formal bid is expected to land at St James’ Park imminently after an initial approach was made by Slot’s side two weeks ago.
Isak, 25, has already told Newcastle he wants to explore a move and was left out of the travelling squad for their pre-season tour of Asia.
He will need to continue pushing hard behind the scenes to force a change of heart from the Magpies, who have previously been adamant he would not leave this summer.
The imminent sale of Luis Diaz is set to free up space in Liverpool’s attack, while Darwin Nunez is expected to follow him through the exit door and Harvey Elliott could also leave.