Virgil van Dijk has challenged Mohamed Salah to maintain the sort of form that will allow him to “play his best season ever” at Anfield
The Reds’ top goalscorer moved up to 18 overall for the campaign with two more for the haul in the 6-3 demolition of Tottenham
With 15 assists to his name now too, no other player in Europe’s top leagues has as many goal contributions as Salah’s total of 33
Van Dijk wants to see his colleague keep up the pace for the Premier League and Champions League leaders.
Van Dijk
“The numbers speak for themselves,”
“He’s a very special athlete. He’s done amazingly for the club. And hopefully he can play his best season ever for the club. Stay important with his goals and assists and be clinical.
“But we need always the complete performance from him. All the defensive work he can put in for us as well is very important as well for the last line, the goalkeeper, he has to keep going and I think he will.
“He is a professional. We’ve been there, he’s been there, so onto the next. And next season? I don’t know.”
On Luis Diaz, whose tally for the season now stands at 11 after two himself against Spurs,
Van Dijk added:
“If you watch the game he wasn’t really a No.9.
“He played through the middle but he obviously played in midfield as well. It is very difficult for defenders when you don’t play against a direct opponent.
“Because there is so much movement. Lucho did it outstanding today again and that is what we need.
“I don’t think it was only the counter attacks. I think it was very well played. Switching side to side. Getting in to the right spaces. “Obviously we know they try to keep the line on the box and if you make the right run at the right time you create chances.
“That was the goal from Lucho [Diaz] for example. I think we played a very, very good game for 70 minutes in total. We take the three points and we have a good Christmas.
“It was a very good game for 70 minutes in total. 20 minutes unfortunately not. But overall a very good win.
“It’s a great game. Big result. But it’s only three points. We move on. It’s great before Christmas.
“It’s a good feeling to go into Christmas. But for us personally the focus will already be on Leicester, quickly.”
The Liverpool and Netherlands captain also said he is placing no deadline on when a new contract can be agreed at Anfield as his impasse rumbles on.
Van Dijk, who can speak to clubs outside of England about a free transfer next summer from January 1, said: “There is no deadline at all. We will see what the future brings. Is there an update? No. "
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