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Danny Murphy identifies the one player Liverpool can’t afford to lose

Danny Murphy

Liverpool have made an outstanding start to the season and are sitting at the summit of the Premier League table at this early stage of the campaign.

Arne Slot has earned praise for quickly adapting his tactics to the Reds side after taking over from Jurgen Klopp at the end of last season.

Liverpool are playing free-flowing football under the new manager but their performances this season are built on having a strong backline.

The Liverpool back four were at their best in their 2-1 win over Chelsea and ensured that Caoimhin Kelleher was not pressured between the sticks.

The Reds have the best defence in the Premier League this season and Virgil van Dijk’s form has been the bedrock of their solid defensive performances.

However, the Dutchman will be out of contract at the end of the season and he admitted recently that he has no idea what his future holds at the moment.

Liverpool can’t miss Virgil van Dijk for even one game – Danny Murphy

He is one of the key players who could leave the Reds on a free transfer but Murphy insisted that Van Dijk’s contract must take a priority for the club.

He admitted that Liverpool will have to find a long-term replacement for Salah if he is to leave next summer but stressed that they will still score goals without him.

However, he insisted that Van Dijk is one player Liverpool can’t afford to miss for even one game and pointed out that everyone has seen how the Reds struggle when he is not in the team.

“[He is] the most important out of all of them [Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold] by a mile”, Murphy said on talkSPORT.

“He just makes them better. Liverpool will score goals whether Salah plays or not.

“For a prolonged period, you’d need to think about who is replacing Salah but Virgil missing for one game is a blow, never mind ten or 12.

“We have seen it before with Liverpool, how they struggle when he is not there.”

Van Dijk has not said one way or the other whether he will be staying at Liverpool but the club are expected to push and convince him to sign a new deal in the coming months.