Arne Slot, Liverpool future role, William Saliba – Six bombshells from Virgil van Dijk's podcast

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was the latest guest on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast as he spoke about a variety of topics, including the Reds' superb start to the season

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk may be nearing the end of his contract, but his affection for the club remains strong.

That much was evident when he appeared on the latest episode of the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast. The Liverpool captain discussed a range of topics with the former Manchester United stalwart, including Arne Slot's start at Anfield and post-retirement plans.

Van Dijk's short and long-term future are a topic of major interest as the Dutchman approaches the end of his contract. And Liverpool fans far and wide are hoping he decides to pen an extension and prolong what's already been an iconic career at Anfield.

The Netherlands star remains one of the world's top defenders at 33 and is a key player for the Premier League heavyweights. The Liverpool Echo took stock as Van Dijk sat down with Ferdinand to discuss his career, promising defenders he's spotted, and his future after Liverpool.

William Saliba's development

Throughout his time at Liverpool, Van Dijk has often been hailed as the world's best central defender. But every dog has its day, and the Reds ace has been impressed by the rapid rise of Arsenal's William Saliba as the 23-year-old stakes his own claim on the title.

"I think, if I'm honest, when I was that age, I was nowhere near where he is today," Van Dijk confessed. "Obviously, that's the beauty of football as well. I like to watch other defenders and pick up so [much] stuff from them. There are so many good ballplayers and centre-halves."

Views on pundits

The Liverpool leader opened up about the impact of punditry on players, hinting he'd adopt a softer approach if he were to join that world. And he even gave a nod to a certain Arsenal icon to illustrate his point.

"I would just be a bit like Ian Wright, I think," he said. "A bit more respectful, a bit more just showing more love, but I know as a pundit sometimes you have to be a bit more controversial. You have to be hard on certain things, otherwise it gets boring and stuff, but it's part of the business, and we all know that."

Toughest foes

When quizzed by Ferdinand on his toughest opponents, the stalwart defender didn't hesitate to name Manchester City and Arsenal as the teams that require him to be at his sharpest. And it should come as no surprise given the constant rivalry that's unfolded between those three teams in recent years.

Van Dijk recounted: "I would say in this case then the City and Arsenal, especially from last year, it's always tough against them. You know that if you're not focused for a second or slip up or whatever, you could get punished immediately."

Slot compared to Klopp

Despite the challenges of adapting to a new manager after Jurgen Klopp's era of success, Van Dijk and his team-mates have managed to transition smoothly under the new leadership. The Reds have suffered just one defeat in 14 outings under Slot, who has been near faultless in his first four months as manager.

Discussing the tactical shifts under Slot, Van Dijk explained: "I think it's just different patterns and obviously, if you watch us play now, you see that we are quite open in adapting to opponents as well, in possession, but obviously, also without the ball, on how to play. I think that's key."

Life as Liverpool captain

Even with Jordan Henderson at the helm as captain, Van Dijk has always been a commanding presence on the field. And that's a trait he traces back to his early days in the Willem II academy, long before he arrived on British shores.

The veteran expressed how leadership comes naturally to him, whether he's wearing the captain's armband or not. He said: "I felt like that role is something that suits me and I really enjoy the responsibility anyway, but if I don't wear the band then it doesn't change who I am."

Future roles

While the Anfield faithful will be eager for Van Dijk to continue his on-field heroics for some years to come, he shared some thoughts on his post-retirement plans. Shunning the idea of punditry, he revealed his pleasure in observing the development of young talents at Liverpool's academy.

"I really feel like I definitely will give something back to football," he explained. "I love working and seeing younger players out there. I don't know which kind of role, and it's too far away to think about it."

Listen to the full Rio Meets Virgil interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, presented by Qatar Airways.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Get the 2024/2025 Liverpool home shirt

Pre-order the new Nike Liverpool home shirt here
£60-£125

The new Liverpool home shirt for the 2024/2025 season features a Chrome Yellow pattern design sees a modernised take on the legendary 84 Home Shirt, a season which saw the Reds become European Champions for the 4th time in Rome and the first English Club to win a Treble of major honours. You can pre-order it now for Thursday, May 16.

Liverpool FC
Pre-order it here