Why Virgil van Dijk’s Backing of Wataru Endo Matters More Than Minutes PlayedLeadership Behind the SpotlightIn an era where football increasingly revolves around data, minutes played, and resale

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has ended any uncertainty about his future by signing a new two-year contract that commits him to Anfield until the summer of 2027. The 33-year-old Netherlands international’s previous terms were scheduled to expire once this season concludes and for many months it was unclear if an agreement would be found.

Virgil van Dijk and Wataru Endo have both spoken glowingly about one Liverpool player who has played a role this season, but much less of one than he would have liked.