VVD shows true colours with teammate gesture and Liverpool contract message

Virigil van Dijk enjoyed a glass of red wine on Saturday night to toast his 300th appearance for Liverpool.

It was another vintage display from the Dutchman in red as Arne Slot’s side continued to show little sign of bottling their lead in the Premier League title race. Yet while Van Dijk is the ‘Rolls Royce’ defender in the team that sit six points ahead of Arsenal at the top of the table having played a game less, every team needs an engine.

That is the midfield of Slot’s machine. While so much was made of Liverpool failing to make high-profile signings last summer, it was the acquisitions of Jurgen Klopp the previous year which have been pivotal in this season’s title charge.

Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were excellent yet again in different midfield roles in a game which the latter opened the scoring before Mo Salah and a Cody Gakpo double saw off Ipswich. But it was another game in which Van Dijk’s compatriot Ryan Gravenberch was just as crucial as the goalscorers.

It was a year ago yesterday that Klopp shocked the world by announcing he would leave the club at the end of the season. It would turn out to be a huge moment for Gravenberch.

Not that he knew it then but Klopp’s successor Slot would discover the former Ajax and Bayern Munich player’s best position as a No 6 after he struggled for minutes in his debut campaign. “Last year he didn't play as much but we all could see his quality,” said Van Dijk. “He kept his head down and worked his socks off.

“This year he's earned the trust and got the confidence to show his quality every three or four days. I've been very impressed with him. Not only on the pitch, but also outside the pitch. He's still a young boy but he's growing into a man.

“The way he approaches the game on and off the pitch is very key to being a world class player. In my eyes, the consistency he's been showing, he's definitely a world class player and he can only become better. He just needs to keep his head down, keep working, keep enjoying, he's in a very good place. He learns from performances in games. He's been almost flawless throughout the whole season.”

Szoboszlai opened the scoring with a lovely finish before the impressive Gakpo cross for Salah to make the second. Gakpo then got the third and fourth either side of the break with Gravenberch providing a crucial pass in the lead up to his compatriot’s first goal.

But it is not only his range of passing which impresses, no other midfielder has made more interceptions this season. Like Van Dijk, Gravenberch is a player who rarely goes to ground but wins his duels on his feet. “I'm proud of him and I'm pleased not only for him but also for us as well because he's a vital player for how we want to play and how we want to be successful,” said Van Dijk.

Jacob Greaves got a late consolation for struggling Ipswich but this was another day which will take away hope for Liverpool’s rivals that any slip up will come. With goals in attack, solidity at the back and a midfield engine which is roaring then Van Dijk may be swapping the claret for champagne in May.

And a second title might slot in along his Anfield highs, but he won’t pick his favourite Liverpool moment until he’s finished making them. Van Dijk, 33, has started 297 of the 300 appearances he has made for Liverpool, won 209, kept 119 clean sheets and conceded just 277 - less than a goal a game - while scoring 25 himself. He said: “Very proud. My family and my kids were here today so it was a special day. Good win so now we focus on the next one.

“There will be a day one day when I reflect on everything that's happened to me at Liverpool. Then I'll have a proper think about what stands out. Hopefully there are still good things to come."

He has the highest win percentage of any Liverpool player to get to 300 games. Van Dijk said: "It shows I did quite well up until now. It's down to everyone involved - the players, the managers, the fans. It's a good stat to have. We will keep going."

The Dutchman has won the Premier League, Champions League, an FA Cup, two League Cups, a Club World Cup and Super Cup in his seven years at the club. So with his contract set to expire this summer, the obvious question is how many games does he have in red to continue to make memories.

He added: "I have no idea. How many left this season? Hopefully those are guaranteed and then I don't know what the future will bring.”