How do Liverpool eventually replace Virgil van Dijk?

Last summer will have felt like a whirlwind of emotions for Virgil van Dijk.

The Liverpool defender became the first Dutch captain to lift the Premier League title, ending the long wait for a proper party at Anfield. The 2020 trophy had been secured behind closed doors during the pandemic, denying supporters the celebration they deserved. Liverpool had waited over 30 years for that day, and Arne Slot delivered silverware in his maiden season.

To add the cherry on top, Van Dijk signed a contract extension which ended all kinds of drama and uncertainty around his future. The captain would stay, the rebuild would continue, and Liverpool looked set for sustained success. 

Then came the loss of Diogo Jota over the summer, and the skipper's job became less about what was happening on the pitch and more about how he could pull his side together through such an emotional time.