Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on captain Virgil Van Dijk.

Many fans had questioned the club letting so much leadership leave in the summer.

With the likes of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and others leaving in the past 12 to 18 months, Klopp has leaned on Van Dijk for leadership.

He stated after the club won the League Cup final against Chelsea: “I love talking about my players. I really love it. Virgil van Dijk from the first day since he stepped into Liverpool FC is absolutely outstanding. But you anyway in his lesser-good moments go for him like he didn't want to perform. 'Why is he like that?'

“Sorry, they're human beings, it happens from time to time. That we are not spot on probably happens to you as well. Yes, thank God, he's absolutely spot on, top shape, we need him; we need them all. I think he learned an important lesson tonight for himself. Not that he needed to learn it, but we gave him the opportunity to learn it. Whatever happens, you always can win the game whatever.

“Because we couldn't explain to the players what the plan was. We explain to the players on the outside [that] we want them to do this and that. Majority of the other guys standing on the pitch just adapt to it.

“Kids come on. Harvey outside, Harvey inside. Joey [Gomez] inside. Stuff like this. I was a player myself and you think, 'What's the idea behind that?' But nobody, I saw it in their faces, nobody thought [that]. Just, 'OK, come on.' Then we do it like that. Yeah, he will not forget, not because it was the first trophy as Liverpool captain, [but] just because [of] the circumstances."