No panic for Van Dijk with Liverpool contract set to expire

Virgil van Dijk is not panicking about his Liverpool contract expiring at the end of this season, even though he admits there is "nothing to report" concerning a new deal.

Van Dijk has been an immense figure throughout one of the most successful periods in Liverpool's history since arriving from Southampton in 2018.

The Netherlands centre-back has lifted the Premier League trophy on two occasions, once as captain, as well as winning two EFL Cups, the FA Cup and the Champions League.

Since Van Dijk's arrival at Anfield, only the recently departed Mohamed Salah (413) has made more appearances for the Reds than his 389, though the defender's 385 starts are the most by any player in that span.

No defender from Europe's top five leagues has bettered Van Dijk's tally of 36 goals in all competitions during that time, but his illustrious spell on Merseyside could be coming to an end.

The 35-year-old has yet to agree fresh terms with the club and will soon enter the final six months of his deal, and he says there has not been any progress in talks.

"I feel good, but it's not about me at the moment. Let's see. I'm not in any panic," Van Dijk said, as quoted by ESPN.

"I want to keep playing and continue what I'm doing. Let's see what the season brings. I've had an amazing time already so far. If that will be extended, then that's the case.

"If not, then I will go somewhere else. There's nothing to report at the moment but that doesn't mean that there's any stress or anything."

Van Dijk withdrew from the Netherlands' squad for Nations League clashes with Greece and Germany due to a "fitness issue" on Monday, returning to Liverpool ahead of their meeting with Manchester United on November 22.

It will mark the first time Van Dijk has missed the entirety of an international window since he was absent from the Netherlands' Euro 2020 squad due to injury.

Andoni Iraola's side beat Crystal Palace 3-1 on Sunday to climb back into the top four of the Premier League table, and Van Dijk says the next step is for them to find consistency.

"It's a work in progress. Some games we could have done much better," Van Dijk said of Liverpool's start to the campaign.

"And there were some games where we lost but we were good. We're trying to find consistency, as that's the only way to be successful."