TAA: Van Dijk told Liverpool players 'this news will rock the world'

Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has praised the leadership qualities of a defensive teammate.

Alexander-Arnold, who has been crucial to the team's successes this season, lauded Virgil Van Dijk.

The Dutch defender took over as club captain in the summer from Jordan Henderson.

Trent told The Athletic: 100 percent [playing for the manager]. That was something that Virgil (van Dijk) said to us all after Jurgen had told us.

He said: 'This is huge news that's going to rock the footballing world but we can't let it distract us, we have to use it as motivation.

The manager has led us to so much success, he's enabled us to fulfill our dreams, so we owe it to him to give everything we possibly can to give him the best send-off'.

Virg said if people think this is going to make us take our eye off the ball then we need to prove them wrong. It was big news but as professionals, you have to get your head around it quickly and move on."