Virgil van Dijk says that it goes beyond his 'wildest dreams' that Liverpool is clear 13 points in the Premier League and that even he has no idea if Trent Alexander-Arnold will be in the club next season.
Asked about his own feelings when Arne Slot arrived last summer, Van Dijk said: 'I came in from a disappointing euro, had two and a half weeks off and then did not come in the preseason, so everything was a bit uncertain.
'But from the first day when we started working, the confidence grew and we saw what we are capable of and what we tried to implement under the new regime.
'Consistency is the most important thing. I think we have found it from the start and I think it is also the hardest thing to get and keep, but we did that well and if I expected that we would be in this position now? No. And not because I don't believe in the boys, but it is more that I think I am 13 points clear in this phase of the season, I think that is even beyond my wildest dreams.
“We have worked so hard to be in this situation and now we have the chance to finish it.”
Liverpool could win the title on Anfield on Sunday against Tottenham, but if Arsenal loses to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, Slot's Side Crowned Champions and Van Dijk will reveal that he and his teammates will probably come together as they did in 2020 when Jurgen Klopp's side won the competition in Chelsa.
“We can be (collect). I expect Arsenal to win at home, but if it doesn't happen, then it would be fun for all of us to be together. No matter how that could see, we will discuss in the coming days, “said Van Dijk.
And he greeted Slot and his coaching team for the impact they had in their first season in Liverpool. “I am very impressed by him (lock),” said Van Dijk.
'Since day one, the conversations I had with him, the demands he has for the team and of course also for me, there is a lot of credit to him.
'We should not forget that we were already a team that fought until April last year, so we had the quality, but we couldn't finish it and this year we found that next level in terms of consistency and finding a way.
'But listen, the staff also deserves all honor. Coming from Holland – to adjust so quickly, to improve so many players in the way we play, give some confidence in the way we play without a pre -season and really without signing sessions.
“It is clear that Federico is the signing in the summer that we have made and he has also been a very good addition to the team, but unfortunately, a bit of bad luck with injuries, but I think the manager deserves (praise), not only him but also the staff,” Van Dijk added.
About the future of Alexander-Arnold, who scored the winner against Leicester, said Liverpool's captain: 'Whatever happens in the future, that is something that he has to solve with himself and the family.
'But he is currently a Liverpool player and he is important for our team. He has been important all season and he came back from the injury, a long one, and I am happy with that.
'He is back in and among us, he is important and we have five more games below, so hopefully he can be important for the rest of the games.
'Since I came to the club, he has been a fantastic player and there are many good things that he will always be reminded for when he decides to leave. But listen, at the moment we don't know what will happen as a group. '
Van Dijk also stated that he did not ask Alexander-Arnold for his future, with the 26-year contract that will expire this summer.
“I think he is already under a lot of pressure, so it makes no sense to put him on the spot,” he said. 'I think we forget that we are dealing with a person. Sometimes he goes through so many moments in recent months and everyone will have an opinion about the way he has been clear.
'For us as players we want to win games and he has been important all season. He has been important for all those years that we have been together. There are still games to go and we must have the best Trent Alexander-Arnold and whatever happens in the future, that is life and football and we will see.
'There is a lot of noise around him and everyone can argue if it is his own fault, but nowadays it is just part of life. So if he scores such a big goal, I think he deserves the applause to go up at that specific moment and to soak it all, because whether he stays or leaves, these are moments that you should not take for granted to give us the opportunity to finish it on Sundays.
“So I think he earned that moment and now it's back to work and to be ready for the weekend,” the 33-year-old added.
At his own contracting situation, which ended last week when Van Dijk put Pen on paper about a new two -year -old deal, said the center of the center: 'I have heard so many things I signed and I did not sign or that I was in contact with so many clubs. I was in negotiations until the past month and we found a way. For me there was only one club. That was Liverpool and I am really proud to extend another two years. '