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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has signed a new two-year contract(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

It's one of the great myths of the modern game.

And in these days of wall-to-wall coverage, being skipper has assumed an all-encompassing role that goes far beyond the confines of the field on matchday.

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Virgil van Dijk is prime evidence of that.



And it's another contributory factor as to why Liverpool have every reason to be delighted a new deal has been thrashed out with the Holland international to extend his Anfield stay by another two years.

As a player, Van Dijk often leads by example, his composed performances at centre-back offering reassurance throughout the team.

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When he does make a mistake, such as his part in West Ham United's late equaliser at Anfield last Sunday, the 33-year-old has a happy knack of not taking long to atone, although rarely has there been a response as swift as the one that saw him head the winner three minutes later to move Liverpool to within six points of the Premier League crown.

That it was on the occasion of his 100th game as Reds captain in the top flight made it particularly timely.

Away from the television cameras, though, is where Van Dijk also scores.

Journalists who regularly cover Liverpool spend a large chunk of their time after matches loitering in the mixed zone, the area where the assembled hacks attempt to grab a word or two from players of both teams as they walk through on their way out of the stadium.

More often than not, players decline the invitation or find an alternative route home altogether.

Van Dijk, however, has regularly assumed the responsibility of facing up to the media, even if, as at Fulham earlier this month, matters haven't exactly gone according to plan for both player and team.

His willingness to front up to the media has taken the pressure off his team-mates, which is all the more commendable given the centre-back has had to regularly field questions over his own future along with the usual post-match probing.

Van Dijk's aura, which has long been discussed by colleagues and opponents, extends to his everyday presence at the AXA Training Centre, where he is a popular figure.

Steven Gerrard had the double task of at times carrying an underperforming team while having to cope with unique demands of being a homegrown skipper, while his successor Jordan Henderson became the standard-bearer of the Jurgen Klopp era while undervalued in some quarters as a key midfielder of a hugely successful team.

Van Dijk has proven himself a worthy skipper and will now be expected to break into the top 10 of most games as a captain for Liverpool.
For more news relating to West Ham, visit our sister site WHU Latest Live.