Virgil van Dijk insists Liverpool will ‘100 per cent improve’ next season as he continues to drop hints over his future… with Reds captain on the brink of signing a new two-year deal

Virgil van Dijk reckons Liverpool are only getting better and will ‘100 per cent improve’ next season, with the Dutchman on the verge of signing a two-year deal at the club.

Mail Sport reported last week how there had been a major breakthrough in the long-running contract saga for the captain to stay at the club. That will be announced soon with just formalities to go.

After scoring an 89th-minute winner against West Ham to take Liverpool within touching distance of a 20th English league title, Van Dijk has opened up on his love for the club and challenged them to get even better.

‘Liverpool should be able to challenge for titles in the upcoming years,’ said the captain. ‘Whatever happens in terms of players going out and players coming in, I think it should be a big summer.

‘I think they’re planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board as a Liverpool connected fan to do the right job.

‘And hopefully the club will be challenging for titles for the next two seasons as well.

‘I think we 100 per cent can improve. I think we shouldn’t forget the quality that the Premier League possesses, especially this season in my opinion. It’s incredible how everyone can beat everyone.

The Reds captain scored a late winner against West Ham to take another step towards the title

Mohamed Salah signed a new contract with Liverpool last week to extend his time at Anfield

‘But take it all the way back to last summer, l didn’t have a proper pre-season. I think I came in on the Monday before we played Sevilla (in a friendly) and I played 90 minutes straight away, then the following week it was Ipswich (first league game) and then you’re just back into it.

‘You don’t have time to work on what the manager really wants in terms of a training camp. This year, there is a training camp and there is time for the team to work on what the manager wants and I think that will then improve the team.

‘There are still so many things to improve, but we shouldn’t forget the quality that the Premier League possesses because we see it. I think a proper pre-season would definitely help the club in order to be even more consistent than we already have been.’

Van Dijk was in a relaxed mood, laughing and joking with reporters when asked about his contract saga which is swiftly reaching a conclusion at last.

He was clearly itching to be able to officially confirm it – but until then says the focus should not be on that but on commemorating Hillsborough victims on the 36th anniversary this week.

‘Now the focus will be on the Hillsborough anniversary in the next couple of days, because that’s the main thing and after that on the weekend against Leicester,’ he said. ‘I told you last week that there was progress, so we’ll see.’

As for Salah’s new two-year deal, he said: ‘Obviously very happy for the club and all of us connected to the club. You can’t put it in words how consistent he is. You can’t put it in words how consistent he is.

‘Obviously his numbers, but the work rate he’s put in over those last eight years at the club is incredible and he can still show it for another few years.

Van Dijk has teased that he too will stay but no deal has yet been announced by Liverpool

Arne Slot looks set to lift the title in his first season at Anfield, with Liverpool 13 points clear

‘I joined the club in 2017 for many reasons. Reasons like how much it means to all the Scousers, to all the fans around the whole world to be connected to Liverpool.

‘Being successful with Liverpool, the culture of the club, everything that embodies Liverpool that is just part of me. That’s why I’m always proud when I wear that shirt, go out there and try to be the best version of myself in terms of the football player that I am.

‘We are two wins, six points away from glory. I know what it means to the club and I know what it will bring us if it happens. Most of the players don’t, so when it happens, it will be beautiful but we still have a job to do.

‘But going back to the fact that I love the club, that’s pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same.

‘Let’s see how this week goes. I think first, all the focus should be going to the Hillsborough anniversary. That’s the main thing and then we’ll see. The focus will still be on Leicester, but maybe there’s some news. I don’t know. I know, but I don’t know!’