Virgil van Dijk speaks out on Liverpool future amid new contract uncertainty

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is relaxed about his future despite being into the final year of his contract at Anfield .

The Dutch defender is one of several high-profile players who are out of contract at the end of this season, with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold also into the final year of their deals.

Van Dijk joined Liverpool for $99m (£75m) in January 2018 and has proved to be well worth the money, establishing himself as one of the world's best centre-backs across his spell on Merseyside.

Sky Sports spoke to Van Dijk after Liverpool's 2-0 win over Brentford at Anfield on Sunday - as the club made it two wins from two under Arne Slot - and he refused to be drawn on his future at the club.

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"I am very calm. I want to play the best season I can," Van Dijk said. "I want to stay important this year. Whatever happens next year, we will see. Everything happens for a reason. There has been no change in my situation but I am very calm about it. There is no reason for me to think about anything else because I have a whole season to play and hopefully we will be successful."

Meanwhile, Van Dijk urged the comparisons between new manager Arne Slot and ex-boss Jurgen Klopp to stop. "The time with Jurgen is amazing and the time with the new boss is a joy and he has a certain way of playing," Van Dijk added. "We work a lot on so many good things and you see a lot with and without the ball that gives confidence to the team.

"We have to, I won't say forget about the Jurgen period, but that is in the past and we had an amazing time and now it is a time for the new boss to hopefully be successful. That's why we have to focus on that, not have comparisons and all of this stuff in my opinion.

"We don't have new players so far but obviously [I have] that extra responsibility because I know the players inside and out. But I am here for him [Slot]. I told him that from day one and I will help them and the backroom staff. I want to be successful and we are in the same boat. There is extra responsibility there."