Pundit’s case for the defence as Liverpool urged to offer ‘no brainer’ deals

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson feels Liverpool should secure the futures of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson as soon as possible.

The two stars have been instrumental in taking the Reds to the top of English football. Liverpool had come close but finally got over the line to win the Premier League in 2019-2020.

That was one season after they clinched the Champions League. Both players played a huge part in those successes and their importance to the Merseysiders cannot be overstated.

Fabrizio Romano revealed on last week’s ‘Here We Go’ podcast that Van Dijk is to be offered new terms. He looks set to be handed a new five-year deal at Anfield despite missing most of the season through injury.

The Netherlands international is under contract until the summer of 2023. Alisson penned a six-year deal when Liverpool paid Roma £66.8m for his signature in 2018.

There appears to be no urgency over the pair’s future but Robinson believes the club should act now.

“It is a no brainer,” he told Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs. “I would give Alisson and Virgil van Dijk as long a contract as they want.

“I would bring them into the office, sit them down and say, ‘How long do you want to stay? They have had such an impact on that team and they are crucial to everything they do.”

Defender’s impact rubs off

Jurgen Klopp has an embarrassment of riches up front. He can call on the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota.

But it is at the back that things have improved to help bring silverware to the club.

Van Dijk and Alisson have taken most of the plaudits but it has been a collective rearguard effort. And Robinson is adamant that it would not have happened but for the arrival of the superstar duo.

“Liverpool have been fantastic going forward for four or five seasons but since Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have come in the defence has been outstanding,” he added. “They have brought the defence on.

“Joe Gomez, (Andrew) Robertson, (Trent) Alexander-Arnold and even (Dejan) Lovren when he was there all got better as a result of Virgil van Dijk.”

Even without Van Dijk for most of the season, Liverpool sit top of the Premier League table at Christmas. They are next in action when West Brom visit Anfield on Sunday.

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