'I heard what Arne Slot said about Virgil van Dijk's form - he's spot on'

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is having another strong season, with Arne Slot praising his consistency ahead of this weekend's FA Cup tie against Brighton at Anfield

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and head coach Arne Slot(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

When assessing Virgil van Dijk's performances these days, the bar has been set so high that it is easy to forget just how good a center-back the Liverpool captain remains.

That can be the only explanation for some of the criticism that he has received this season. He isn't the same sauntering, all-conquering defender that he was at his peak, but he was so far ahead of the rest of the players in his position in the world game at that point that, even when he is on the way down, he is still the benchmark.

Thirty-four-year-old Van Dijk still has authority and assurance at the back, even though there has been chaos around him at times this season. He does have the odd mistake in him, but there is no one better around the Premier League and beyond.

At least as impressive as his ability level as a modern center-back, though, where he is required to do a lot more with the ball on a technical level than those who played in the decades before him, is his sheer relentlessness.

So far this season, Van Dijk has started all but two fixtures for Arne Slot — both of which came in the League Cup. As Slot said on Friday, he rarely has to sit out a game.

"Vital, of course," Slot said on Friday when he was asked about his skipper. "If he’s not playing, there are no options left — the same for Ibou [Konate] by the way, although Joe [Gomez] is coming back now.

Van Dijk rarely misses a game for Liverpool(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

"He’s been fit every single time, and I’ve said this before, how big of an accomplishment that is for a player of his age, because he’s not the youngest anymore, but he plays every three days.

"That’s not a coincidence because if I look at how much work he puts in on a daily basis to recover, to be ready for the next.

"Immediately when the game finishes to the moment the next game starts, and I’ve said before that it’s always harder to stay fit in a season where a team and he have had so many setbacks.

"So it tells you a lot about what he does off the pitch in recovery, but definitely also about his mental strength that he’s able to stay with the team.

"And not only stay with the team, but also bring in very good performances and lead the team, as he always does, on and off the pitch by example. That’s also what he did Wednesday night in Sunderland."

Van Dijk has remained a constant throughout his Liverpool tenure. And with his contract only having a year left when the summer arrives, it won't be long until the chatter turns to whether he could sign an extension.

By the time his current deal finishes, Van Dijk will be almost 36. "He will be with us for that period of time and maybe even longer if he keeps staying fit as he is now," Slot said last week.

Unless things dramatically change in the next few months, discussions about a new contract could soon become a major talking point once again.