Liverpool news as Virgil van Dijk makes demand and teammates slammed

Liverpool is edging closer to securing Champions League soccer for next season, as Virgil van Dijk calls for squad leadership and Jamie Carragher questions Reds pair

Virgil van Dijk has issued a message to his teammates(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool will go a long way to securing Champions League soccer for next season with a victory against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Reds' prospects of consolidating a top-five finish in the Premier League were given a significant boost when Chelsea was thrashed 3-0 at Brighton on Tuesday. A dramatic win at Hill Dickinson Stadium against Everton on Sunday placed Arne Slot's players firmly in the top five and opened up a seven-point cushion over their nearest rivals.

Liverpool requires three wins to guarantee a top-five finish, though just two victories would ensure it finishes above Liam Rosenior's side — or only one should it overcome Chelsea at Anfield on May 9.

While optimism is growing around the club, questions surrounding the Reds' underwhelming campaign persist. Our latest Liverpool news features club captain Virgil van Dijk calling on his players to raise their game, while two of the Reds' newest signings have come under scrutiny from an Anfield hero of yesteryear.

Van Dijk's demand

The Liverpool skipper has stated he hopes the younger, less experienced members of the squad will shoulder greater responsibility next season, with talismanic figures Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson both departing this summer.

Van Dijk, who stepped up when it mattered most against Everton at the weekend, is well aware that the new generation must now step up and deliver. "Players have to step up. You grow into that (leadership) role, or you already have it in you. That is something players have to show even more next season," he said.

Van Dijk scored the winner at Everton(Image: Getty Images)

"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.

"You have to ask the question to the guys higher up. 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.

"The focus is now on finishing the season in the best way possible. I think you come to the decisive period now, so if it is slipping away you are playing against very difficult opponents and you can get knocked out – not that that is the Liverpool standard I'm used to or we should be used to, not at all."

Reds stars slammed

Jamie Carragher has urged Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to justify their substantial price tags next season. Isak hasn't struggled to live up to his £125 million ($168.6 million) fee since arriving from Newcastle last summer.

Wirtz made a sluggish start at Anfield before beginning to demonstrate some of the qualities that persuaded the Reds to part with £116 million ($156.5 million) for the former Bayer Leverkusen star.

After netting six goals during the winter period, Wirtz has since failed to maintain that form, most recently struggling to impose himself during the Merseyside derby against Everton.

Carragher told the Liverpool ECHO: "Isak hasn't got going, he obviously got the injury, but he didn't look great to start with, Wirtz has got to do a lot more, an awful lot more when you think of the price that Liverpool have paid for him.

"In terms of what Liverpool need to do next season, well obviously they need to replace Salah. I think for me three players need to come straight into the team. You can't go on and buy five players into the team. Liverpool bought a lot of players last summer so they are not going to buy a load this summer."