Virgil van Dijk is witnessing Liverpool’s current leadership group “falling apart” as key players leave – but believes “the guys higher up” will have a plan to solve it.
Mo Salah and vice-captain Andy Robertson are already confirmed to be departing Liverpool this summer, while Alisson is also considering a move away as Juventus circle.
That would leave only captain Van Dijk from the club’s established leadership group, with the likes of Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister remaining from the fringes.
It not only forces another change of vice-captain after Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s exit last summer, but also – in Van Dijk’s words – a need for others to “step up” and take responsibility.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk (R) react after the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield. PSG won 4-0 on aggregate. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“You have to ask the question to the guys higher up,” Van Dijk told reporters including the Times‘ Paul Joyce when asked if a reset was necessary this summer.
“The leadership boys are falling apart – in terms of players leaving – so players have to step up and see what the guys making the decisions are going to do.
“But I’m pretty sure everyone has the right intentions to make us, as a club, competitive and hopefully not have a season like we’re having this season again.”
This summer is arguably a more important summer than the last, when Liverpool spent £446.2 million but saw the squad gutted as Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott and Caoimhin Kelleher all left.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk and head coach Arne Slot before the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. Palace won 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Propaganda)
There is a big decision to make on Arne Slot‘s future, and while it is unlikely the spending record will be broken again it is clear further investment is required in a number of key positions.
“Players have to step up,” Van Dijk continued.
“You grow into that [leadership] role or you already have it in you. That is something players have to show even more next season.
“After the World Cup, in pre-season, it will be an interesting development in terms of how the manager sees it as well.
“And then we have to tackle the season in the best way possible and not have a season like we have had this season again.
LIVERPOOL FC STAFF & KEY PERSONNEL: 2025/26
Department Personnel & Job Title
Owners John W. Henry (FSG Principal Owner)
Tom Werner (FSG Chairman)
Mike Gordon (FSG President)|
|Fenway Sports Group (FSG)|Michael Edwards (FSG CEO Football)
Julian Ward (FSG Technical Director)
Pedro Marques (FSG Director of Football Development)|
|Recruitment & Research|Richard Hughes (Sporting Director)
David Woodfine (Assistant Sporting Director)
Matt Newberry (Director of Global Talent)
William Spearman (Director of Research)|
|Coaching Staff|Arne Slot (Head Coach)
Sipke Hulshoff (First Assistant Coach)
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Assistant Coach)|
“We are playing five more games and we have to try to get qualification for Champions League done.
“It’s definitely not the standards that I expect and envision myself being a Liverpool player – just to qualify for the Champions League.”
As for Liverpool’s higher-ups, sporting director Richard Hughes and CEO of football Michael Edwards are reportedly committed for the summer, but after that point it is unclear as their contracts expire in 2027.
The Telegraph‘s Sam Wallace wrote earlier this month that both Edwards and Hughes signed those deals with no intention of continuing beyond that point.
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