Virgil Van Dijk admits 'surprise' to Liverpool coaching decision as club didn't ask his opinion

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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesLiverpool FCLiverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admitted that head coach Arne Slot's sacking surprised him and that he did not find out about the club's decision until it was leaked to the publicVirgil van Dijk admitted to being unaware of Liverpool's plans to sack Arne SlotWinning the Premier League often gives a manager more time, support from fan, and the resources to build on success. But Liverpool fired Arne Slot a year after he won the title in his first season, leaving club captain Virgil van Dijk surprised by the decision.Slot was sacked at the end of May after a disappointing second season.

Meanwhile, van Dijk has been at Liverpool for nearly a decade with his contract set to expire after 2027. Slot delivered a league title in his debut season, only to watch his entire project slowly lose its life.Van Dijk was the only Premier League player to play every minute during the 2025-26 season and admitted the call caught him off guard after the Netherlands' 1-0 loss to Algeria."That came as a surprise.

It's not as though they asked me for my opinion."Virgil van Dijk has played almost every minute for Arne Slot last season(Image: Getty Images)Van Dijk started all 38 league matches this season and played 3,420 minutes. He scored six goals, with two coming against Aston Villa late in the season as questions grew about Slot's future.His numbers under Slot during Liverpool's 2024-25 title-winning season were even more crucial to team success.