Virgil van Dijk sets new Liverpool challenge as legendary pair close in on Reds exits

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Interview with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk following Sunday's 2-1 win over Everton in the Merseyside derbyVirgil van Dijk has challenged his team-mates to "step up" as a new era approaches at Liverpool without Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah.Salah and Robertson both announced in the last few weeks that this season would be their final campaigns at the club after nine years each, with the legendary duo now into their last five matches as Reds players.Robertson was given the vice captaincy last summer following the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Salah, who has registered 257 goals for the club, has been the top scorer in every one of his eight full campaigns on Merseyside.The exits of the two high-profile figures leaves Liverpool needing to find adequate successors for such important characters in the dressing room and club captain Van Dijk has opened the floor to the rest of his colleagues to fill the void created.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page“Players have to step up," Van Dijk said.

"You grow into that role or you already have it in you, that is something players have to show even more next season."After the World Cup, in pre-season, it will be an interesting development in terms of how the manager (Arne Slot) sees it as well and then we have to tackle the season in the best way possible and not have a season like we have had this season again."I don’t want to say but I definitely have my opinion [on the who the next vice captain should be] and I always share my opinion."The focus is now on finishing the season in the best way possible, the poor season we are having. Today (against Everton) was a good start."We have five more games and the focus on what’s next and that’s the World Cup and then focus on a good holiday – because that’s needed – and then focus on pre-season and making next season successful."Van Dijk was speaking after Sunday's 2-1 win over Everton in the first-ever Hill Dickinson Stadium, where he scored the winning goal in the 100th minute after Salah's opener was cancelled out by Beto.The Reds skipper added: “During the game I think there were phases where the performance was good today but there were phases where we were under pressure and had to fight.

But that is to be expected as you’re playing Everton in the first Merseyside derby here."It’s about managing the game as best we can and show our quality whenever that is called upon, hopefully as much as possible."I think the first goal was a great example; the reaction we showed after the disallowed goal (for Iliman Ndiaye) when their fans are behind them was very good. It’s important it’s in our hands for qualification for the Champions League."Liverpool were dealt a blow after Beto's equaliser when Giorgi Mamardashvili was forced off following a deep wound to his knee.The Georgia international, who was taken to hospital, was replaced by Freddie Woodman, the club's third-choice goalkeeper.“He is a great character, he is a big part of our group," Van Dijk said of Woodman, who is expected to make his first Premier League start for the Reds when they entertain Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.