Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Few such purchases, though, have offered quite the bang for their buck as Virgil van Dijk.

If eyebrows were raised at Liverpool's outlay to take the centre-back from Southampton way back in December 2017, they have long been replaced by arms instead being held aloft either in celebration or when thrusting silverware into the air.

Such has been the impact of Van Dijk during a Reds career that will now be extended by a further two years after confirmation on Thursday morning the Holland international has finally reached an agreement over a new contract.



Read More.

Similar to Salah, Van Dijk has had to recalibrate his game in recent years, prompted primarily by the serious cruciate ligament injury suffered when on receiving end of a horror challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in October 2020 that kept him out for nine months.

Almost five years on, it's testament to Van Dijk's determination and physical prowess that he remains such an integral player for a Liverpool side closing on a second championship in five years.

It would be his eighth major honour at Liverpool, his most recent coming when scoring the winner in the League Cup final triumph over Chelsea last season.

While there has been little indication of an imminent drop-off in performance level, Van Dijk - who will be almost 36 by the time his new deal expires - can't go on forever.

Players with the profile of Bournemouth's 20-year-old Spain international Dean Huijsen will come under consideration by the Liverpool recruitment team.

Despite both entering the latter stages of their respective careers, both Van Dijk and Salah retain the burning desire that has underpinned their successes, with each believing their aims can still be achieved at Liverpool.

The Reds, meanwhile, are confident the fact two of their most stellar performers are so keen to stay demonstrates they have created the conditions where elite players can fulfil their ambitions.

Which leaves one obvious question.

With the futures of Salah and Van Dijk now resolved, the focus will shift to Trent Alexander-Arnold, the other Liverpool player who entered the last 12 months of his contract this season.

Unlike his team-mates, Alexander-Arnold has kept his counsel over his preferred future intentions.

Still only 26, Alexander-Arnold is very much at a different stage in his career compared to Van Dijk and Salah and, having come through the ranks at his boyhood club, hasn't had the same adventures as his team-mates.
For more news relating to Everton, visit our sister site EFC Live.