Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk insists that he is focused on the last two matches of the season and does not know whether compatriot Arne Slot will replace the departing Jurgen Klopp.

Reports suggest that the Reds have agreed a compensation figure with Feyenoord for the 45-year-old manager, but van Dijk claimed that the squad do not have any inside information about who their new boss will be.

“Is he the new manager? Nothing has been announced but there's rumours, things out there that he could be his successor. 

So let's see, we have two more games in this season and when it is over and there is news, we will focus on what is coming next but it is a fact that there will be a lot of changes happening and it will be interesting.”

The 32-year-old told reporters that whoever the new manager is, he will seek to help ease the transition for them and the squad. 

“I am here to be a part of that and looking forward to it. I am at the club and the captain so I want to help, I will help and I should help [the transition]. If he is the one who comes then let's see. 

We are not quiet so we know things are happening but at this stage there has been no decision made [over the next manager]. 

We know other things are decided and Michael Edwards is coming back, Richard Hughes will be the sporting director, they are the only decisions that have been made. 

Other than that we will just wait and see but I have got full trust in the club to make that right decision. 

There will be a lot of changes happening and I wouldn't say scary is the right word but it is quite interesting and exciting what will happen now. So let's see, let's see.”

Asked whether there are negotiations in place over a new contract, with his current deal expiring next summer, the Dutch international insisted that that was not a priority right now. 

“I think there is nothing for me to discuss because there is no news, I think the club is very much busy with who is going to be the new manager and that is the main focus.

 Like I said I am very happy here, I love the club and you can see that as well. It's a big part of my life already, and that is all I can say. 

The focus is now on the last two and then the club will focus on who the new manager is and there will be a big transition and I am part of that.”

The Reds skipper spoke about the relationship between himself and Jurgen Klopp in glowing terms, and again confirmed that the players’ focus is on giving him the best possible send-off.

“He is quite a manager, very impressive in my opinion, he is the whole package. 

He is a fantastic manager, a great human being and we have a great relationship. 

I am really proud I played for him, fought for the badge and him and count the success we had over the years as well. 

So like I said it will be emotional on the last day but it is a part of life sometimes.”

The German manager had labelled qualification for the Champions League as an achievement in his press conference before Sunday's game, and van Dijk agrees with his boss that it is just that.

“Listen if you said at the start of the season that this is how it would have gone then I think we would have taken that.

We are winners and we were close and that is how it is, we weren't good enough in the decisive moments but that is life. We have to stick together and we will. 

It's on us and a few of us have been in title races and on the losing sides at times and it hurts, but yeah, like I said we have to take this experience with us and you only improve if you learn and that is the aim and we can take that into next season. 

We want to give the manager a good farewell and do it for ourselves as well.”

  • The win over Tottenham

The Dutchman was pleased that the Reds overcame Spurs in the six goal thriller at Anfield, ending a bad run of form but he was frustrated with one particular aspect of the result.

“We did really well in the first half, the second half wasn't as good as we'd like it to be.

They made changes and we made some that impacted the game a bit and we were a bit rusty but overall, we had to bounce back from a disappointing situation and last week was. 

We did that and now we move on, we want to win both those games. 

We all did it together, we are a big family, the whole club and that is how it has always been, through thick and thin. 

We all had dreams and we were all realising it could happen but unfortunately we weren't good enough in the decisive part. 

Now we have to take so much from it and into next season and finish this one as strong as we can. Today was a good win and now we focus on the next two."

Asked about the failure to keep a clean sheet, van Dijk made his disappointment clear, and insisted that he bears responsibility as the captain.

"It's not great but we are in the last part of the season and fatigue kicks in. 

We got three points, that is what matters but of course we want clean sheets.

It didn't happen today and it is something we definitely have to improve and I feel responsible because I am one of the leaders at the back. 

We have to improve and I will make sure we do.”