Virgil van Dijk's message to team-mates as 'leadership boys' prepare to leave Liverpool

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The Anfield dressing-room will be saying goodbye to a lot of know-how, which is why Virgil van Dijk is hoping the less experienced players will take on more responsibility next season.The Liverpool captain said: “Players have to step up. And then we have to tackle the season in the best way possible and not have a season like we have had this season again.”READ MORE: Everton ballboy left Liverpool fans stunned after Mohamed Salah's derby strikeREAD MORE: Liverpool news: Arne Slot's future made clear as Reds icon tipped for Anfield returnEven though Arne Slot’s side won the Premier League, there was a lot of change in the summer but Van Dijk would not commit to the need for another reset.

He said: “You have to ask the question to the guys higher up."The leadership boys are falling apart – in terms of players leaving – so players have to step up and see what the guys making the decisions are going to do. But I’m pretty sure everyone has the right intentions to make us, as a club, competitive, and hopefully not have a season like we’re having this season.”Van Dijk and his team-mates have five more games to play this season but Chelsea’s implosion means a top-five finish - and Champions League football for 2026-27 - almost looks like a formality.

But Van Dijk, 34, is having none of that.He said: “The focus is now on finishing the season in the best way possible. I think you come to the decisive period now, so if it is slipping away you are playing against very difficult opponents and you can get knocked out – not that that is the Liverpool standard I’m used to or we should be used to, not at all.“But the reality is we are playing five more games and we have to try to get qualification for Champions League done.