Virgil van Dijk delivers Liverpool warning as two players challenged

A dramatic victory at Hill Dickinson Stadium against Everton on Sunday afternoon lifted Arne Slot's side into the top five and established a seven-point cushion over their nearest rivals. Liverpool require three victories to guarantee a top-five finish and need just two wins to ensure they finish above Liam Rosenior's team - or merely one should they defeat Chelsea at Anfield on May 9.

While optimism is steadily building around the club, doubts persist regarding the Reds' disappointing season. Today's Liverpool news features club captain Virgil van Dijk asking his team-mates to stand up and be counted, while two of the Reds' latest signings have faced criticism from a former Anfield favourite.

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The Liverpool skipper has admitted he expects the younger members of the squad to shoulder greater responsibility next season, with the Reds losing club legends Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson this summer.

The Reds have been deprived of numerous experienced figures who delivered considerable silverware under Jurgen Klopp in recent seasons. Van Dijk, who rose to the occasion when it mattered against Everton at the weekend, understands it falls to the new generation to perform.

"Players have to step up. You grow into that (leadership) role or you already have it in you. That is something players have to show even more next season," he said.

"After the World Cup, in pre-season, it will be an interesting development in terms of how the manager sees it as well. And then we have to tackle the season in the best way possible and not have a season like we have had this season again.

"You have to ask the question to the guys higher up. The leadership boys are falling apart – in terms of players leaving – so players have to step up and see what the guys making the decisions are going to do. But I'm pretty sure everyone has the right intentions to make us, as a club, competitive, and hopefully not have a season like we're having this season.

"The focus is now on finishing the season in the best way possible. I think you come to the decisive period now, so if it is slipping away you are playing against very difficult opponents and you can get knocked out – not that that is the Liverpool standard I'm used to or we should be used to, not at all."

Jamie Carragher has urged Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to justify their substantial price tags next season. Isak hasn't struggled to live up to his £125million fee after arriving unfit from Newcastle in the summer due to a lack of pre-season.

A four-month absence after suffering a broken leg at Tottenham Hotspur has further hindered the Swede's adaptation to life on Merseyside.

Wirtz made a slow start at Anfield before beginning to demonstrate some of the ability that persuaded the Reds to spend £116m on the former Bayer Leverkusen star. After netting six goals during the winter period, Wirtz has failed to maintain that form of late, most recently struggling to impose himself during the Merseyside derby.

"[The big-spending summer] hasn't worked, it might work in the future because I don't think you can judge every signing in the first year," Carragher told the ECHO.

"But I've said this before, my experience as a Liverpool player; every player who came to the club, I can't remember one who didn't really do much in his first season and then was a revelation afterwards. Some took a few months, you might get to Christmas, maybe second half of the season, so I think there's a lot to do for the players who has come in. Hugo Ekitike has done well, not amazing but he's done well.

"Isak hasn't got going, he obviously got the injury but he didn't look great to start with, Wirtz has got to do a lot more, an awful lot more when you think of the price that Liverpool have paid for him.

"In terms of what Liverpool need to do next season, well obviously they need to replace Salah. I think for me three players need to come straight into the team. You can't go on and buy five players into the team. Liverpool bought a lot of players last summer so they are not going to buy a load this summer."

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