Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is currently away with Holland on international duty, and will play a different role with the Reds next season both on and off the pitch
11:56, 22 Jun 2026
Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk defended Arne Slot against accusations he was too soft on players(Image: Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk will start the new season with a different head coach for the third time in successive seasons, and the center-back's form will likely play a huge role in the success of the Andoni Iraola era.
Club captain Van Dijk is currently away in North America at the World Cup for Holland, and played 90 minutes in the Netherlands' 5-1 win over Sweden on Saturday afternoon alongside Micky van de Ven, who has been linked with a move to Anfield.
He'll have a new centre-back partner next season, with Ibrahima Konate having departed for Real Madrid on a free transfer at the end of his contract. The Reds have already signed Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, who are expected to take turns playing alongside Van Dijk and learning from him before the club icon departs - with his contract up at the end of the season.
In order to play the leadership role he's expected to for the two young center-backs - Jacquet is 20, Leoni is 19 - Van Dijk will need to keep himself in prime condition when he returns from the World Cup, and will be expected to set the standard in training.
According to his stats from last season, that won't be an issue for the 34-year-old. Van Dijk.
Along with playing every minute in the Premier League, his stats from training prove he barely took his foot off the gas. According to stats provided by WHOOP, Van Dijk logged 187 training sessions between August 2025 and June 2026, with a total of 17,282 minutes - 288 hours.
For much of last season, there was a narrative around Liverpool that then-head coach Arne Slot had been too lenient on the team and had given them too much time off.
Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak, Ibrahima Konate and Jeremie Frimpong
Liverpool's players were criticized for taking time away from the club ahead of the Manchester United clash
Players posting images to social media from abroad gave fans the impression they had been allowed too much time away from the training pitch, with many blaming that approach for the disastrous title defence last season.
Players spoke out about that theory last season, with Van Dijk dismissing the idea that he and his teammates had too much time off.
After the game against Manchester United - which Liverpool lost - Van Dijk hit out at suggestions Slot had given the players a holiday in the days building up to the defeat.
"I'm not sure it’s a holiday. It's a city trip," the captain explained. "But I think if you have one day off, and you don’t have many days off, everyone can decide what they want to do with their families. We are not kids. Everyone is an adult.
Players posting images to social media from abroad gave fans the impression they had been allowed too much time away from the training pitch, with many blaming that approach for the disastrous title defence last season.
Players spoke out about that theory last season, with Van Dijk dismissing the idea that he and his teammates had too much time off.
After the game against Manchester United - which Liverpool lost - Van Dijk hit out at suggestions Slot had given the players a holiday in the days building up to the defeat.
"I'm not sure it’s a holiday. It's a city trip," the captain explained. "But I think if you have one day off, and you don’t have many days off, everyone can decide what they want to do with their families. We are not kids. Everyone is an adult.
Virgil van Dijk of the Netherlands during the Group F - FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Netherlands and Japan
Virgil van Dijk is currently away with Holland at the World Cup(Image: (Photo by BSR Agency/Getty Images))
"I want us to experience what I have had over my time here. I want us to be successful. I want to be consistent with the team, winning games, fighting, and getting the job done.
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"At the moment, we are just disappointed. Consistency is the most difficult thing in any job you do. But it is also the best way to be successful and get results.
"We have three more games now then the World Cup and there will be a reset. We have to realize next season this season cannot be repeated. It is unacceptable."