---
title: "Extending Alisson and Van Dijk’s contracts is a ‘priority’ for Liverpool"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/extending-alisson-and-van-dijks-contracts-is-a-priority-for-liverpool/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2020-02-03T21:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-02-03T21:00:00Z"
---

# Extending Alisson and Van Dijk’s contracts is a ‘priority’ for Liverpool

Tying down Alisson and Virgil van Dijk to new contracts is a ‘priority’ for Liverpool, according to the *[Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/liverpool-transfer-news-mbappe-sancho-havertz-summer-melissa-reddy-a9314306.html)*‘s Melissa Reddy.

The pair have both been huge successes at Anfield since joining the Reds in 2018, from [Roma](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/307801-liverpool-confirm-alisson-deal) and [Southampton](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42496637) respectively.

A host of key men have already committed their future to Liverpool, including [Trent Alexander-Arnold](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/334726-trent-alexander-arnold-new-contract-liverpool) and [Andy Robertson](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/334396-andy-robertson-signs-new-liverpool-contract), and the club hope Alisson and Van Dijk will go the same way.

Reddy also [states](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/liverpool-transfer-news-mbappe-sancho-havertz-summer-melissa-reddy-a9314306.html) that the duo are both keen on signing new deals.

### Read Liverpool Verdict

In my opinion, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk are amongst the main reasons why Liverpool have become such an unstoppable force under Jurgen Klopp so it’s great to hear that the Reds want to extend their current deals.

For all the brilliance of the full-backs, the relentless industry of the midfield and the world-class quality of the front-three, Alisson and Van Dijk have elevated this Reds side to another level.

Liverpool were suspect defensively prior to their arrival – who else remembers the [4-1 defeat at Tottenham](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41625743)? – but they have come in and made the Reds truly formidable at the back, possessing great stature and consistency.

Alisson has the [joint-most clean sheets (nine)](https://twitter.com/DaveOCKOP/status/1222668318848536578?s=20) in the Premier League this season, despite missing two months of the campaign through [injury](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/49300793).

Van Dijk, meanwhile, finished [second in the Ballon d’Or](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/02/ballon-dor-lionel-messi-megan-rapinoe) in December and is, in my opinion, already Liverpool’s greatest-ever centre-back as no other Reds’ defender has ranked so highly in the voting for the famous individual honour.

His game is almost faultless, whether it be speed, positional sense, quality on the ball or leadership, and for that reason I think he is Liverpool’s most important player.

Against his former club Southampton on Saturday, the Dutchman won seven aerial duels, made two tackles and enjoyed an 81 per cent pass completion rate, according to *[WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376133/Live/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Liverpool-Southampton)*.

Liverpool’s aim will be to have sustained success over the next few seasons and keeping both Alisson and Van Dijk at the club will go a long way to helping them meet that ambition.