Van Dijk: There is no other place to be aside from Liverpool

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk does not spot immoderate constituent successful being anyplace else, but admitted his concern was antithetic to that of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s.

Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah were each successful the last twelvemonth of their contracts going into this season, though Alexander-Arnold is the lone 1 who has not signed a renewal.

The right-back announced past week that helium would beryllium leaving Liverpool erstwhile his woody expires, with wide reports linking him with a determination to Real Madrid.

“For me, determination is nary different spot to beryllium astatine this point,” said Van Dijk, arsenic quoted by the Daily Mail. “Everyone shares antithetic opinions, and helium [Alexander-Arnold] feels similar helium has done it each – and helium did it – and helium wants to effort thing different.

“You are speaking astir 1 of the biggest clubs of each successful Real Madrid, who helium mightiness spell to, arsenic I work successful the media! The determination is made. We are each gutted, players arsenic well, arsenic helium is simply a fantastic player.

“When the last whistle is there, we volition miss him aft that, but we inactive person 2 much games, the trophy assistance and a parade, truthful determination are plentifulness of moments we tin stock together, and past we volition spot what happens.”

Alexander-Arnold has been astatine Liverpool for his full nonrecreational career, having worked his mode up done the academy to marque his elder debut successful October 2016.

Within that period, the England planetary has made 258 league appearances for the nine and has go their second-longest serving subordinate down Joe Gomez.

He has besides provided 64 assists successful the Premier League during that span, much than immoderate different defender successful the competition’s history.

Despite that, helium was booed by a conception of fans astatine Anfield erstwhile helium came disconnected the seat successful Liverpool’s 2-2 gully with Arsenal connected Sunday, which was his archetypal quality since announcing his impending departure.

87 – There were conscionable 87 seconds betwixt Cody Gakpo putting Liverpool 1-0 up and Luis Díaz doubling their pb against Arsenal. Blink. pic.twitter.com/7fwimXcr1y

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 11, 2025

“The manager said it close successful the property league that you can’t determine however anyone feels astir the determination helium made for him and his family,” Van Dijk continued.

“The absorption happened. He has to woody with it. We arsenic a squad person to woody with that arsenic well, by the way. But I deliberation possibly helium expected this. We person 2 much games, and past we portion ways, and helium volition spell determination else.

“It’s not easy, not astatine all. We’re present for him anyway, but I deliberation the manager said it beauteous well. You can’t determine however anyone’s feelings are based connected this decision. He made his decision, and helium had bid with it.

“It’s football. We each cognize however it works, however the players person to marque decisions astatine times and bash what they deliberation is champion for themselves and their families that they have. He made the determination for himself, and he’s astatine bid with it.

“We person to woody with it. The nine has to woody with it, and I deliberation successful the past the nine dealt with it successful precise bully ways arsenic well. Like I said, we person 2 much games that helium volition person to play a portion successful arsenic well. I’m definite helium volition due to the fact that he’s a fantastic player, and past we’ll accidental goodbye to him.”

With Alexander-Arnold leaving the club, and Liverpool having made conscionable 1 outfield signing since Arne Slot joined – Federico Chiesa – the Dutchman besides acknowledged that it was pivotal for Liverpool to get the off-season right.

“It has to beryllium a large summer, and I spot the nine and the radical who marque the decisions to bash the close thing. As champions, it is simply a precise hard task to stay champions, but I consciousness with additions we tin marque that measurement up,” helium said.

“We tin person a due pre-season, we tin enactment connected the things the manager wants america to bash successful shot possession and, without shot possession, a batch of hard enactment volition beryllium done. It’s thing to look guardant to, it’s precise exciting, and it’s an breathtaking clip to beryllium associated with Liverpool.

“Let’s spot what happens, but I afloat spot the decision-makers to bash the close things and let’s spot what those close things are.”