Arne Slot reacts to Virgil van Dijk contract hint as Darwin Nunez Liverpool absence explained

Arne Slot reacts to Virgil van Dijk contract hint as Darwin Nunez Liverpool absence explained

Reaction from Arne Slot as the Liverpool boss reflects on Virgil van Dijk's contract hint and Darwin Nunez's absence is explained

Arne Slot congratulates Virgil van Dijk after the Liverpool captain's late header sealed a dramatic win over West Ham United (Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images )

Arne Slot has played down speculation that next week will bring confirmation of Virgil van Dijk's new contract - insisting the full focus is on Leicester City as Liverpool look to potentially become Premier League champions. The Reds beat West Ham United 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday after Van Dijk nodded in a late winner after an own goal from Andy Robertson had cancelled out Luis Diaz's first-half effort.

Slot's men now need just six points to become champions but can win a 20th championship if they beat relegation-haunted Leicester City next Sunday at the King Power and Arsenal lose away at Ipswich Town earlier on in the afternoon.

‌

Article continues below

After Mohamed Salah's long-term Liverpool future was confirmed on Friday by public announcement of a two-year extension, Van Dijk is expected to follow on imminently, with the captain hinting that the news might come before the Leicester game.

What Virgil van Dijk did after Liverpool winner spoke volumes as new contract imminent READ MORE:

Slot, though, refused to be drawn, insisting his, Virgil van Dijk's and the whole club's focus is on securing another big victory in their efforts to lift a second title in five years.

"I think [Van Dijk] means let’s see what next week brings because we play Leicester City," Slot said. "Because at this moment in time, that is by far the most important thing this club is looking at.

‌

"Two more wins and the first 32 games have shown us how difficult it is for every team - I repeat every team - to win a game of football. The competition has never been as strong as it is this season. That is what makes it so hard to win a game of football.

"So everyone can say we still have to win two, yeah, so we should be completely focused on that and if in the meantime a contract extension or whatever happens, but in the meantime my full focus on Leicester and Virgil’s as well.

"It's very important [to have players like Salah, Van Dijk and Alisson]. It would not be completely fair to only talk about them but I think as a manager, we are looking at those who have already achieved a lot to step up in important moments.

‌

"At the end of the season, moments get bigger and bigger and bigger. Today all three of them showed up. Not just them but you're asking me about these three. All three showed up. Not only these three but you're asking me about these three.

"Alisson had probably his best game of the season and Virgil scored the header that got us three points and Mo was again very important in the first goal and really lively in the first half. I saw the Mo Salah again from the first parts of the season."

On Darwin Nunez, who watched the game from behind the substitutes' bench alongside the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, Slot added: "He went in yesterday [from training]. He didn’t feel well, that’s why he went in and couldn’t be in the team today."

‌

Liverpool, meanwhile, have officially qualified for next season's Champions League, which, Slot confirmed, was the main priority when he was appointed as Jurgen Klopp's successor last summer.

Slot said: "I think [Champions League qualification] was the main aim of the club because two years ago, they experienced how much of an impact it is if you're not part of the Champions League.

"The main aim in what they told me is look at the players, give your opinion so we can go into this project in the second and third year but do qualify for the Champions League. We all know that even the team that is in 16th has very good players but the top eight have incredible players.

Article continues below

"It is getting more difficult to qualify for the Champions League. if you'd have asked me this question as the beginning of the Champions League, I'd have said nice but yesterday I wasn't opening a bottle of wine because we qualified for the Champions. Now we have a bigger aim."

Click here to read article