**Virgil van Dijk’s form for Liverpool this season has been disappointing by his high standards, but when is he likely to bring an end to his Reds career?**
The Dutchman was badly at fault for Bournemouth’s opening goal in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat on the south coast, summing up what has been a frustrating campaign for the captain.
[Van Dijk](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/very-tough-take-virgil-van-dijks-assessment-bournemouth-3-2-liverpool) was a deeply frustrated figure after the game, both in terms of the results and the fact that he thought he may have been fouled for the Cherries’ late winner:
_“Very disappointed. Last minute of the game, very tough to take. But like you said, we worked very hard – in the second half especially – to get back in the game. Obviously at times we were open as well because we were trying to push for the winner. But to concede that late is very disappointing._
_“What I felt on that pitch was that I was clearly blocked, but obviously the ref and VAR don’t give it and that’s something we then have to accept. In my opinion, I was blocked. But listen, I can stand here and say it should not be given – but it’s given and it is what it is.”_
Now, [_Football Insider_](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-liverpool-have-clear-virgil-van-dijk-sale-plan/) report that Liverpool’s plan is for Van Dijk “to see out the end of his contract and have no intention of selling him in the summer”, despite his dropoff of late.
**Is Van Dijk’s form a cause for concern?**
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There is no denying that Van Dijk has fallen well below the world-class standards expected of him throughout his Liverpool career, but any talk of him leaving this summer is nonsense.
He remains one of the first names on the Reds’ team sheet, generally leading the troops superbly, and while he may turn 35 years of age this summer, he still has a few more good years in him.
It may be that Liverpool and Van Dijk mutually decide that the summer of 2027 is the right time for one of the best-ever Anfield careers to come to an end.
That said, if he ups his game between now and the end of next season, another short-term extension shouldn’t be completely out of the question, given the influence he can still have.