Pundit claims Liverpool player just put in his best performance of the season

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Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk put in his best performance of the season against West Ham United last night.

So says former Liverpool let-back Stephen Warnock. Analysing the 2-1 win for LFCTV, Warnock made a point of praising Van Dijk, who hasn’t had the easiest of campaigns.

“I thought that was one of the best performances I’ve seen from Van Dijk in recent weeks, probably this season,” raved the pundit.

“The only downside to his game was the one where Bowen scores but luckily for him it gets chalked off for offside. I thought everything that came in the box he was dominant, and he won every single header coming in.”

Much better from Virgil alongside a resurgent Joel Matip. Hopefully a sign that he’s over whatever has held him back this season.

Van Dijk sends reminder of his class

Warnock is right here, yesterday’s display was definitely one of Van Dijk’s best of the season. He marshalled the physical Michail Antonio well and generally looked far more assertive than he has in recent months.

It wasn’t all perfect – the Bowen goal would have been a notable blot on his copybook – but by and large he and Matip made sure Liverpool didn’t miss Ibrahima Konate at all.

In amongst it all was a superb piece of defending to stop Antonio from prodding West Ham ahead. With the goal at the forward’s mercy, Van Dijk appeared from nowhere to toe it out for a corner. Superb pro-active defending. Just what we’ve been longing to see from our No.4.

There is still an argument that he looks more assured whenever he plays with Matip next to him. Regardless of that, Konate without doubt represents the future. The Frenchman looks likely to be back for Sunday’s visit of Tottenham.

Beyond that there are rumours that Liverpool will look to bring in a new centre-back over the summer. From Van Dijk’s point of view that could mean his place is under threat next season.

A few more displays like this between now and the end of next month and that threat will potentially recede. Good to have you back, Virg.