Liverpool are expected to “break open the bank’s safe” to tie Virgil van Dijk down to a new contract, one journalist in his native Netherlands believes. While it has been interpreted elsewhere as a major update on Van Dijk’s future, suggestions Liverpool are close to agreeing a new deal with their captain appear wide of the mark.

A young Tottenham mascot pleaded for Virgil van Dijk to join his club but Spurs ended up keeping a clean sheet and will take a 1-0 lead to Anfield for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final

The Liverpool skipper was his usual commanding presence at the heart of defence at Tottenham, and his post-match message was the perfect response to any concerns about a slight dip in form