Walk On: The Athletic FC's Liverpool show Contract talks: Should Liverpool keep Van Dijk and Alisson?
Nov 12, 2026
Liverpool writers James Pearce, a club correspondent covering teams and transfers, and Simon Hughes, a senior football analyst, join a lively debate on Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker’s futures. They weigh age, wages, leadership and succession planning, consider Dominik Szoboszlai’s best role, revisit Joey Jones, explore Tony Evans’ unexpected career path and choose beloved Liverpool cult heroes.
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Liverpool Must Price Leadership Into Contracts
- Liverpool must weigh Alisson and Van Dijk’s declining physical margins against their irreplaceable leadership and dressing-room influence.
- Alisson’s availability remains the key variable, while Van Dijk’s durability and captaincy strongly support keeping him.
Take Emotion Out Of Veteran Contract Decisions
- Judge legendary players by what they can contribute from 2027 onward, not only by past achievements.
- Consider one-year deals, lower guaranteed wages, and appearance incentives to protect Liverpool against decline while retaining elite performers.
Alisson’s Replacement Is Not Ready Yet
- Van Dijk appears close to an automatic renewal, but Alisson requires more succession planning because injuries have cost him 32 league games across three seasons.
- Liverpool’s younger goalkeepers are not yet ready to make replacing Alisson straightforward.