Van Dijk looks ahead to more success with Reds after penning new two-year deal

It was always Liverpool.

- By IAN DOYLE

For all the speculation over his future, and as the Saudi Pro League loitered with intent, Virgil van Dijk never had any thought other than to extend his Anfield stay.

And it isn't just wistful sentiment that prompted the Reds skipper to put pen to paper on a new two-year contract that ties him to the club until 2027.

Having garnered all there is to win under former boss Jurgen Klopp, Van Dijk believes the Arne Slot era has the potential to prove just as fruitful.

"When you go through these successes and you see what it brings, what it means to the people of Liverpool and everyone connected to Liverpool around the world, you want to achieve it again and again and again," he says. "That's the motivation.

"For me, I'm a winner - I want to win every game, I want to try to do everything in my power to win every game ahead of us.

"That's the goal as well for the next two years, to compete until the very last moment and hopefully be successful.

"I think it's exciting what's coming.

"Hopefully, a very good pre-season and it's going to be a very difficult Premier League season waiting for us next year, because everyone will try to improve, will get new additions, like we should as well, and then we have to compete and we have to show our qualities, show our consistency.

"And on top of that, maybe even more importantly, we have to enjoy it.

"I will certainly do it because I really realise how privileged and bless ed I am to play for Liver pool FC."