Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk swapped the Anfield turf for Vogue studios in a recent fashion shoot, where he jokingly refused to rule out more appearances on the catwalk after his football career ends
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool gestures during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Leeds United
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has joked about a career change in the future(Image: (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images))
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Liverpool's star defender, Virgil van Dijk, has cheekily hinted at a potential future strutting his stuff on the catwalk once his football days are over.
The Dutch centre-back, renowned as one of the finest of his era, is best known for his exploits on the pitch. However, he recently swapped the Anfield grass for the glitz and glamour of a Vogue photo shoot, posing for a series of snaps, including one with a Liverpool flag draped around him.
When quizzed by Vogue about the possibility of more fashion shoots in his future, the 34-year-old chuckled, saying: "I mean... Never say never." But fans need not worry - there's no sign yet that he'll be swapping his football boots for the catwalk anytime soon.
Van Dijk is contracted to Liverpool until 2027, having inked a two-year extension just before last season wrapped up. He was handed the captain's armband following Jordan Henderson's move to Saudi Arabian team Al-Ettifaq in the summer of 2013, and has been an ever-present force since his big-money move from Southampton.
The Dutchman put in another stellar performance in the recent goalless draw against Premier League frontrunners Arsenal, as he looks to help re-ignite the Reds' season after a rocky start. Reflecting on the match and Liverpool's fluctuating season, Van Dijk said: "If you play for Liverpool, you have to play with confidence and still be confident even if it has been a very inconsistent season.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk(Image: (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images))
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"There is an opportunity every three or four days. You want to go out there and enjoy yourself, but also to show your quality with every moment that you have.
"There was a lot of noise around this game and a lot of talk around this game, and we managed everything pretty well and we had the biggest chance in the end with the ball on the crossbar. Listen, we have had very good performances throughout the season but not for 90 minutes.
"We have been very inconsistent, and consistency is the key to being successful and that has been proven. That is what we had last year and unfortunately in that sense we haven't been good enough this season.
"The only thing we can do is try and get it back and every three or four days we have an opportunity to do that. But we also need consistency in no injuries and that is unfortunately part of the game, and we are dealing with that as well."
While the performances on the pitch haven't been at their free-flowing best, Arne Slot has managed to stop Liverpool's poor run of form compared to where it was. Since a 3-3 draw with Leeds, the Reds have managed to shore up their defence a little, picking up four wins and three draws in that time.
Those three draws have come in their previous three meetings, however, which includes a disappointing 2-2 draw with Fulham - where a late Cody Gakpo goal was cancelled out by a wonderstrike from Harrison Reed. The latest, a 0-0 against Arsenal, may be seen as a more positive point, leaving the side in the top four.
With the title now seemingly out of reach, bar a dramatic loss of form from the top three, Slot has outlined that the target this season is to land a place in the Champions League. While there are those aims in the league, that will be put on hold for a quick switch to cup action.
Liverpool are set to welcome Barnsley for the third round of the FA Cup this weekend. Following their clash with the League One side, they'll be back at Anfield to face Burnley, before jetting off to France for a Champions League showdown against Marseille.
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