‘Stepped up’… Martin Skrtel says 32-year-old Liverpool player has proven everyone wrong this season

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The story of Liverpool’s season so far has very much been one of redemption.

After delivering such a miserable campaign in 2022/23, plenty needed to change at Anfield. The pressure was on, with some even suggesting that Jurgen Klopp was on borrowed time.

One of those under an equal amount of scrutiny was star centre-back Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman had been slammed for some poor displays for club and country and at 31, looked like his best days were behind him.

Ever since the season began though, Van Dijk has made a mockery of those observations. The defender has been simply incredible since the first whistle this term. Praise has rightly come his way, with former Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel now adding his voice during an interview with The Athletic.

“When you lose players like [Jordan] Henderson and [James] Milner, they are always going to be big misses, not only on the pitch but off it too,” Skrtel explains. “But Virgil has really stepped up. He’s the leader and the main man. I think the captaincy has helped him. You can see that with his performances. He’s back to his best.

“After he had that serious injury, people doubted him but the way he’s played this season has shown he’s got so much left to offer. He’s right up there with the best centre-backs in the world. With the consistency he’s shown, I’d love to see him getting individual trophies as well as lifting collective trophies with the team.”

Van Dijk earns Skrtel praise

Looking back, you have to wonder why anyone doubted Van Dijk at all. Yes, he wasn’t in the best form, but neither was the whole team.

With legs beginning to go all around him, Virgil was lumped in with the group who looked to have overstayed their welcome.

But with freshness around him, Liverpool’s No.4 has emerged from the ashes.

There is little doubt that Van Dijk is the outstanding defender of his generation. Rival fans can argue all they want, but none can match just how good the Netherlands international has been since joining Liverpool.

As a result, in hindsight he was always going to bounce back. He’s simply too good not to have.

Even then, the scale of his resurrection has been quite something. We’d go as far as saying that Van Dijk has a good case to be the Premier League’s Player of the Season so far.

As Skrtel says, being given the captain’s armband really appears to have elevated him to new levels.

If Van Dijk can maintain his level of performance and lift the Premier League title for Liverpool, he’ll surely be in line for individual gongs.

The one question over Virgil remains what his future plans are with the Reds. With Klopp heading for the exit there have been claims that his skipper will do the same. This time last year, fans may have begrudgingly accepted that eventuality. But not now. Sign the contract, Virg!