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Alan Shearer believes securing the future of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will be massive for Liverpool.(Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer believes Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah extending their Liverpool contracts will be "massive".

The 54-year-old expects the Reds duo to be firing again next season, in what could be a title defence for Arne Slot's side.

Liverpool sits 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League, with the out-of-contract duo playing a key role in a formidable campaign for the Reds, who were largely unfavoured by critics going into the season.



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Salah tops the charts for goals and assists, while the Dutch central defender has been ever present but in the shadow of their superb showings, uncertainty surrounding their futures have remained with the pair set to be free agents in the summer.

READ MORE:Rio Ferdinand tells Man United to beat Liverpool to £34.3m transfer after 'initial talks' heldREAD MORE:What Mohamed Salah said after last Liverpool contract extension as new deal edges closer

However, in light of their disappointment against Fulham, the Liverpool captain revealed that there had been positive discussions regarding new terms at Anfield.

Meanwhile, there has been a breakthrough in Salah's contract discussions with the club and a two-year extension looks set to be imminent - ending the concern about the duo's future.

And for Liverpool, Shearer believes it is crucial for the Reds future to tie down two key players.

"Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk look set to sign new contracts, which is hugely important for Liverpool, because they're two incredibly important figures at the football club," he told Betfair.

"They're probably the two most important ones, you've got your main goalscorer and captain, so that tells you how important it is.

"I know they haven't signed, but it sounds very positive.

It's great news for Liverpool and I would imagine that it will give them a little boost until the end of the season.

"They're going to win the league, despite a slip up last week and then they'll go into the summer with positivity.

I guess it's also good for players who might come into the club, because there's no doubt players will come into Liverpool this summer.

"On that side of things, knowing that two big-hitters have signed contracts with Liverpool going forwards.

Salah will get his usual shed-load of goals and Van Dijk will be as solid as ever.

"I don't suspect that my Premier League goalscoring record is on Mo Salah’s mind, but the record is going to go one day and whoever it goes to, whether it's Harry Kane, Mo Salah or Erling Haaland, I guess there's so many ifs and buts.

"It will go one day and it might be Salah who does it, yeah."