‘In the next clash!’: Carragher challenges Van Dijk to match him after Liverpool defender’s recent comments

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Jamie Carragher challenges Virgil van Dijk to match him after the Liverpool defender’s recent comments. It’s a big ask.

Liverpool found out their Champions League Last 16 opponents on Monday – Real Madrid. It’s a rematch of last year’s final, of course, as well as the Quarter-Finals of the year before. In other words, the Reds have struggled against Los Blancos as they lost both ties.

What this also is, however, is an opportunity for Jamie Carragher to send a little message to Virgil van Dijk. The Liverpool defender recently commented on Carragher, claiming he wouldn’t even get into the current squad.

“No [he wouldn’t get in the squad],” Van Dijk told Gary Neville. “And I’m dead serious about that. He played many, many games for Liverpool but I would say in the modern-day game, Matip and Konaté would be ahead of him.”

That’s promoted Carragher to post a little reminder – and challenge – for Van Dijk on Twitter.

Jamie Carragher challenges Virgil van Dijk

“Last Liverpool team to beat Real Madrid, 5-0 on aggregate!” said Carragher, with a photo of his 2009 side. “Hopefully you can keep two clean sheets [Van Dijk] in the next clash!”

Well, Carragher certainly makes a good point there. His Liverpool side went to Madrid and won 1-0, with Yossi Benayoun getting the winner. The Reds welcomed Real back to Anfield for the return leg – and thrashed them 4-0.

That Real Madrid side wasn’t quite on the level of this one, admittedly, but it remains one of Liverpool’s standout European ties. It’s also a reminder that Carragher was instrumental against the biggest teams and achieved things few have.

While we do see where Van Dijk was coming from with his ‘modern game’ comments, Carragher is right to push back. Hopefully, the Dutchman can match him when he has his own two legs against Real next year.