Virgil Van Dijk He rarely allows his focus to stray from his winning mentality, winning a game and vision of a game. But on Saturday night, he indulged in a glass of red wine with his wife Rike.
I was celebrating. Not necessarily the 4-1 win over Ipswich, or the fact that Liverpool are six points clear with a game in hand in search of glory. The boss toasted 300 games in Liverpool.
“I'm very proud, very proud,” said Van Dijk, whose family was at Anfield for his special day. And after scoring his triple century, a couple of big questions come to mind.
Is Van Dijk the best defender in Premier League history? And, perhaps most importantly, how many more games will he play in a Liverpool shirt?
“I have no idea… how many more games are there this season?” he said when questioned on the latter. 'Sixteen (in the league)…hopefully they are guaranteed and I don't know what the future will bring.'
Van Dijk is smart with his words, knowing that fans and the media would descend on him like vultures if he were to offer more details about his future, but the fact that he is apparently no closer to knowing where he will be this time next season. It is completely baffling and worrying for Reds supporters.
Virgil Van Dijk celebrated his 'proud' achievement of 300 games for Liverpool on Saturday
Enjoyed a drink with his wife Rike (left) after the Reds beat Ipswich 4-1 in the Premier League
When asked how many more times he will play for Liverpool, he replied: “I have no idea… how many more games are there this season?”
They are enjoying the news though, although this routine victory over Ipswich was probably one of the easiest afternoons Van Dijk has experienced in his 300 games.
They didn't concede a shot until the hour mark passed, and goalkeeper Alisson might as well have put on a tap, illuminated a pipe and read a few chapters of a book for the first 85 minutes until a late Ipswich surge.
So Saturday won't be one of the first memories when Van Dijk finally retires, although he hasn't picked a favorite moment yet. He said: 'There will be a day, one day, where I reflect on everything that happened to me at Liverpool and think about what stands out. But I hope there are still things to come.
The way Liverpool are going, it looks like good things will certainly happen this season. Van Dijk will be instrumental in that and the stats back up the theory that he is the greatest defender of the modern era.
Since his Liverpool debut, he has made more passes, had a better duel success rate and even scored more goals than any defender in the league. He's also only been given away beyond a staggering 0.15 times per game, barely at all, and only four men have played more minutes than him over time, which isn't bad considering he missed almost an entire season with injuries. .
Van Dijk is the most important cog in Liverpool's matrix along with Mohamed Salah, who is now above Thierry Henry on the all-time Premier League goalscoring list. Frank Lampard and Sergio Agüero are next in their sights.
And Captain Van Dijk's supremacy is part of a Dutch trend that is rocketing Liverpool to this title, with Cody Gakpo's two goals matching his league tally for last season (eight) and Ryan Gravenberc putting up consistent displays of class world. Not to mention Boss Arne's slot.
Gravenberch has been the biggest surprise and Van Dijk said: 'Last year, he didn't play as much. But we all saw his quality. For him, it was definitely key to keep his head down and work on his socks. This year he has the confidence and the confidence.
The Reds skipper is one of three big-name players at the end of the season
Statistics show that he is the best defender of the modern era: he is central for the Liverpool team
'You can show your quality week in week and every few days. I am very impressed with him. Not only on the field but also outside. He's still a little boy but he's growing into a man.
'The way you approach the game on and off the field is very key to being a world-class player. The consistency he is showing, he is a world class player. And it can only get better too. You just have to keep your head down, keep working and keep enjoying yourself.
'Learn from difficult moments in games. He's been almost perfect this season. Also how to approach the game: recovery, preparation for training and games, sleep.
'Everything you need to do to be a consistent, professional athlete, you are doing it the right way. I'm proud of him. I'm happy not only for him but for us. He is vital to us.
Gravenbebch and Gakpo are just two players that the slot has transformed from talented stars struggling to nail a starting point to those who consistently put in a week after week. Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Díaz are others who have found consistency.
It means that even if Salah or Van Dijk have a game that is not at their best, others step up and fire the Reds at the results. Not that the pair's level has dipped: in 300 games, there haven't been too many bad days for Liverpool's Captain Fantastic.