Van Dijk voices strong support for Robertson amid Liverpool exit speculation
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has made his feelings abundantly clear regarding the potential departure of vice-captain Andy Robertson, as Tottenham Hotspur intensify their efforts to secure the Scottish defender's signature before the January transfer window closes.
Contract talks interrupted by unexpected Spurs approach
The situation has developed rapidly this week, with Robertson having been engaged in discussions with Liverpool about extending his stay at Anfield before Tottenham's surprising intervention. The two Premier League clubs are now locked in detailed negotiations, though no final decision has been reached at this stage.
Liverpool management fully recognise and appreciate the exceptional service Robertson has provided during his eight-and-a-half year tenure at the club, where he has established himself as a key figure both on and off the pitch. However, the Scotland captain is understood to be prioritising regular first-team football as he prepares to lead his national side in their first World Cup appearance since 1998 later this year.
Van Dijk's personal intervention and public appeal
Van Dijk revealed he has held direct conversations with his defensive colleague about the mounting transfer speculation and expressed his sincere hope that the experienced left-back will remain with Liverpool for the remainder of the season at minimum. Robertson's current contract is scheduled to expire this summer, adding urgency to the situation.
"Of course I speak to him," Van Dijk confirmed to reporters. "I speak to him every day, he's my vice-captain. Robbo is a very important member of our team and I want him to stay but whatever happens, let's see."
The Dutch defender remained pragmatic about the immediate future, adding: "Do I expect him to be here on Wednesday [for the Qarabag game]? That's not on me, is it? Let's speak about [my best memories of him] when [a move] happens."
Defeat compounds Liverpool's challenging season
Van Dijk's comments followed Liverpool's disappointing 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth, which ended their impressive 13-match unbeaten run. The loss represents a significant setback to their ambitions of securing Champions League qualification for next season.
The match saw Bournemouth take an early two-goal advantage through Evanilson and Alex Jimenez, before Liverpool mounted a comeback with Van Dijk scoring a header and Dominik Szoboszlai converting a free-kick. However, Amine Adli's late winner secured all three points for the home side.
Fatigue and defensive vulnerabilities exposed
Van Dijk acknowledged that fatigue played a role in the defeat, particularly following their comprehensive 3-0 Champions League victory at Marseille earlier in the week. "What can explain tiredness?" he questioned rhetorically. "Look at the last line in the last minutes of the game, that says quite a lot."
The captain took personal responsibility for aspects of the performance, stating: "The first goal, I take full responsibility for that even though it was a very difficult ball to judge. In the second half, we tried to do that."
He elaborated on the team's defensive struggles: "They created chances because we were very open at times. If you then don't make the right decision in possession, you can get counter-attacked. When we only have myself and Wata [Wataru Endo] as the last two, if we lose the ball then there is a lot of space."
Search for consistency continues
Van Dijk admitted Liverpool have struggled to find the necessary consistency this season, describing it as "a difficult season in terms of ups and downs." However, he emphasised the immediate opportunity to secure qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals in their upcoming match against Qarabag.
"We are trying to find consistency and we still don't have it, that is something we need to focus on," he said. "Now we have an opportunity on Wednesday to qualify for the top eight of the Champions League. That is our target but today is tough to take."
The defender reflected philosophically on the contrasting emotions of professional football: "Last Wednesday we had a lot of praise, team and personal, and everything was all good. Today, the flip side, all the other things will be mentioned because it's the life we live. We have to take responsibility and I will definitely take responsibility."
As the transfer deadline approaches, all eyes remain on Robertson's future, with Van Dijk's public support adding another layer to this developing story at Anfield.
