The celebrations continue for Liverpool after its Premier League title win — but for two former Reds players, the past few days have been less than jubilant.

A week on Sunday, Virgil van Dijk will join the ranks of the 11 Anfield captains who have hoisted the championship trophy, with Liverpool having already clinched their 20th title with four games to spare.

Van Dijk is following in the footsteps of his ex-teammate Jordan Henderson, who was at the helm when the Reds secured their most recent Premier League title in 2020 under Jurgen Klopp.



After moving to Amsterdam in January 2024 following a brief stint in the Saudi Pro League, his team was nine points clear at the top of the Eredivisie.

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However, a downward spiral ensued.

Ajax is set to wrap up its season at home against sixth-placed Twente this weekend, while PSV will be visiting Sparta Rotterdam, currently sitting in 11th place.

Ajax's dramatic slip-up has sent shockwaves beyond the Netherlands — it's been making headlines across Europe, with one Spanish news outlet dramatically stating, "Ajax is definitely descending into hell" — yet a significant setback for one of Henderson's ex-Liverpool colleagues hasn't garnered as much attention.

On Sunday, Sampdoria, the once illustrious Italian club who graced the final European Cup in 1992 before its transformation into the Champions League, found itself relegated to Italy's third division for the first time ever.



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