'Where is he going to go?': Liverpool legend delivers Van Dijk VERDICT

At some point this season every Liverpool fan will have undoubtedly thought to themselves, ‘if we could only keep one of Salah, Trent or Van Dijk, who would be best?’.

There is a strong argument for all three. No one matches Mo Salah in the Premier League for goal involvements since he moved to Liverpool. Trent has the most assists by a defender in Premier League history at only 25 years old. Virgil van Dijk became the best centre-back in the world after joining the club and hasn’t given that title up.

Losing any of them would fundamentally change the character of Liverpool on and off the pitch. Club legend Mark Lawrenson, however, has said that Van Dijk would clearly be the greatest loss.

"I think Virgil van Dijk is the most important to tie down because if we were without him, I think we'd struggle a little bit," said Lawrenson speaking to the Echo.

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"He's such an impressive player and character as well. There's still nobody better, quite honestly," he continues, “He influences so many people on the team.”

“We hear always that he's great in the dressing room, and his standard this season has probably gone up a little bit if anything.”

"He would be the easiest one to tie down to a new contract. After all, where is he going to go? Van Dijk can't be at any better place than where he is at the moment. He runs the dressing room alongside a few others like Alisson Becker.”

It’s an interesting point. Trent has the rumours of Real Madrid following him around, and the idea of playing at the Bernabeu with Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. is obviously attractive.

The strongest rumour for Salah is an eye-watering offer from Saudi Arabia which, again, has its attraction.

But there is a noticeable lack of rumour surrounding Van Dijk. He would probably get into any team in the world at present, but will be 34 by the start of next season. At that age, he doesn’t represent a wise long-term investment regardless of the level he is performing at.

Alongside Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool have only conceded two league goals so far this season. And with the news that Konate should soon see a contract extension himself, keeping the band together is the wisest thing Arne Slot could do at the moment.