Jamie Carragher suggested Liverpool could lose one of their biggest stars as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah inspired a dramatic 2-1 Merseyside Derby win over Everton
21:30, 19 Apr 2026Updated 21:37, 19 Apr 2026
Jamie Carragher
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Jamie Carragher reckons Virgil van Dijk will depart next summer as Liverpool continue their overhaul(Image: Richard Sellers/Allstar, Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher has hinted that Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk could depart the club next summer. Just moments after his stoppage-time header secured victory in the Merseyside Derby, Carragher made quite the statement when discussing Liverpool's 2-1 triumph with goals from Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
He said on Sky Sports: "The result is absolutely huge for Liverpool when you consider the Chelsea result yesterday. When that board went up for 11 minutes, I'd have shook with anyone and taken a point from a Liverpool point of view.
"With the situation with the goalkeeper, Everton were a little bit more threatening. Liverpool were a small team towards the end of that game and I was fearful of set-pieces.
Virgil van Dijk has been tipped by Jamie Carragher to potentially leave Liverpool in the next year
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Virgil van Dijk has been tipped by Jamie Carragher to potentially leave Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
"When you think of how Liverpool have won this game - two of the absolute legends of the club have done it. They won't be here much longer. Salah and probably Van Dijk in 12 months' time.
"Two of the absolute greats. Salah has done it again against Liverpool's biggest rivals, as he always does. Against Everton or Man Utd, you can always rely upon him."
Van Dijk has endured difficult spells this campaign but has now netted crucial strikes against Sunderland and Everton. He penned a fresh two-year deal at Anfield last summer which makes it entirely plausible he does exit in 2027.
Liverpool players celebrate the win at Everton
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Liverpool players celebrated the win at Everton
Andy Robertson, meanwhile, is a Liverpool player whose current contract expires at the end of the season and that is when he will be leaving.
The Scotland captain delivered an outstanding performance at left-back with Ibrahima Konate amongst those encouraging him to acknowledge the travelling fans.
Third-choice 'keeper Freddie Woodman was another directed towards the supporters after he replaced Giorgi Mamardashvili, who sustained an injury during Beto's levelling goal.
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That appears to be another worry for Slot, though as he suggested it would be a short-term issue following the match. The same cannot be said for Hugo Ekitike, however.
The French star sustained a severe Achilles injury as Liverpool were eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week.
The attention for Slot and his squad is squarely on securing a return to that competition next season, with their victory over Chelsea meaning just nine points from their remaining 15 matches will suffice.
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Triumphs for Aston Villa and Manchester United, who defeated the Blues, also brought them nearer to confirming a top-five position while Liverpool ended Everton's European ambitions with their win.