Gabriel Agbonlahor tells Liverpool what to do with Virgil van Dijk after his display against Manchester United

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Virgil van Dijk was at his imperious best as Liverpool dispatched Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford.

Starting at the heart of the backline alongside Ibrahima Konate, he thwarted everything that came his way and led the backline with aplomb as Liverpool kept their third successive clean sheet under Arne Slot.

Van Dijk has entered his seventh full season at Liverpool since his £75m move from Southampton and has no signs of decline despite turning 33 earlier this year.

However, with his contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign, Liverpool face a race against time to tie him down to a new deal as the Dutchman would be free to negotiate a free transfer from January.

Gabriel Agbonlahor believes the Liverpool captain was back to his imperious best against Manchester United and urged the club to offer him a new deal.

Gabriel Agbonlahor says Liverpool must renew Virgil van Dijk’s contract

Hailing Van Dijk as a ‘Rolls-Royce,’ Agbonlahor praised the defender for successfully containing the Manchester United attackers.

“I thought Van Dijk was fantastic yesterday. I feel in the previous game, Konate shined maybe a bit more than him, but yesterday watching the game, I thought he was like a Rolls-Royce.

“Manchester United had no chance. Garnacho, Rashford, Zirkzee – no chance of getting past him,” Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT.

Agbonlahor feels Van Dijk is showing signs of his returning to his brilliant best and believes Liverpool must do everything to tie their captain down for the long term.

He continued: “And he’s back to that sort of form that he had before his big knee injury with that clash with Pickford.

“And he really is a Rolls-Royce defender, coming out with the ball, is passing, and no one’s getting past him. Liverpool really need to get that new contract sorted.”

Agbonlahor named Van Dijk in his Premier League Team of the Week, with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Ryan Gravenberch the other Liverpool players to have earned a mention.

What has Van Dijk said about his Liverpool future

Speaking after Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brentford earlier this season, Van Dijk said he was calm about his future despite his contract running out at the end of the season.

With a whole season left to play under a new manager, the 33-year-old didn’t dwell too much on his contract, which is an indication that he’s no closer to agreeing a new deal.

Van Dijk has played every minute of Liverpool’s Premier League season so far and looks set to play a key role for Slot in the coming months.

Liverpool must tie down Van Dijk to new contract

The Dutchman is not only one of the best defenders in world football currently but also one of the best players of his generation.

Van Dijk has played 273 games for Liverpool in all competitions, winning seven major trophies.

The Reds paid a then world-record fee to snap him up but Southampton, but he has proved to be a bargain despite costing £75m and still has a lot to offer despite turning 33.

Troy Deeney also feels Liverpool must renew Van Dijk’s contract but it remains to be what the Reds do as one of their modern-day greats edges closer to the exit door.

Judging by his current form and what he’s done for the club over the years, it would come as a huge blow to Liverpool if he walks away on a free transfer.