Forget Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool's next era defining defender is staring them in the face

It was a ropy showing, especially in comparison to his usual lofty output. Even by his own admission, talismanic Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was not at his imperious best against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, dragged out of position, as he was, in the build-up to Bukayo Saka's opener, and largely at fault for the mix-up that led to the Gunners' second in a 3-1 win.

‘It was a tough day,’ the Dutchman said. ‘The [goal for] 2-1, I take full responsibility for that, I should be have done better and made a better decision and it hurts. Especially for me but the rest of the team. It was a big turning point... I’m not looking for excuses. It’s split second decisions you make, I chose to let the ball bounce and put my body in the way. Things happen. But I will try to make sure it never happens again.’

Inevitably, it is in the aftermath of performances like these, rare as they still are, that one eye is cast fearfully towards the future. It is becoming increasingly difficult to remember a time before Liverpool were able to rely on Van Dijk, but with the centre-back now approaching his 33rd birthday, and with his form occasionally wavering where it once stood firm, it feels as if there is a dawning realisation that he cannot keep going forever.

How, then, does a club go about replacing a player as integral and as iconic as Van Dijk? The answer, of course, is with great difficulty, but it must be done, and it can be done. In the twelve months since he completed a move to Portuguese giants Sporting CP from Danish outfit FC Midtjylland, Ousmane Diomande has established himself as one of the most in-demand defenders in European football - and with good reason.

Still only 20 years old, the Ivorian is an imposing figure in possession of both a physicality and a footballing brain that heavily belies his tender age. His reading of the game is razor sharp, his composure on the ball is admirable, and his timing in the tackle is pleasingly reminiscent of Van Dijk himself.

Indeed, there is a reason why he is being linked with the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle United, and why his current contract in Lisbon is said to include a release clause of around £69 million. Diomande is one of the most intriguing and precocious defensive talents in the world right now, and as his profile grows, so too does his list of suitors. At the time of writing, it is understood that Liverpool are very much among the chasing pack, and it is not hard to envisage them stepping up their interest in transfer windows to come.

Of course, there are some reasons to be a touch hesitant. For one thing, Diomande generally operates on the right side of a central defensive pairing, whereas Van Dijk tends to line up on the left. Similarly, there are areas of Diomande's game that could be notably improved - his win rate in aerial duels, for instance, is lower than you might expect.

But all in all, his potential and his youthfulness eclipse any petty concerns. Diomande will continue to adapt and grow, and if he stays the course on his current trajectory, it is only a matter of time before he is considered a truly elite talent.

To that end, sooner or later Liverpool are going to have deal with the decline and eventual loss of an elite talent of their own. Van Dijk will go down in history as a club legend, and rightfully so, but we are reaching a point at which a contingency plan must be outlined to cover for his inevitable departure in years to come. Diomande could be the ideal successor.