Strikers get spooked by the aura of world-class defenders and tend to avoid them altogether — especially Van Dijk

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have committed their futures to Liverpool, but how did the club convince them to stay? And will that persuade Trent Alexander-Arnold to snub Real Madrid?

Virgil van Dijk has joined Mohamed Salah in signing a new contract with Liverpool. Van Dijk’s deal was due to expire at the end of the season but the Netherlands center back has penned a new, two-year contract.