Jamie Carragher claims Liverpool would never be title contenders without ‘magnificent’ player in their line-up

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool face off against Manchester City on Sunday with the chance to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

It isn’t a new situation for Liverpool or for Jurgen Klopp. But after a poor season last year, it is something of a surprise to be once again in the mix for the title so quickly. Nevertheless, the Reds have earned the right to be there.

So too have City, who sit just a point back on the Reds, and Arsenal who are another one point further down the table. With so little to choose between the teams, it really is anyone’s game.

Despite that, Jamie Carragher has claimed that there is one very big difference between all three title contenders. Or rather, between City and the other two.

Writing in his column for The Telegraph today, Carragher insisted that if one player was taken out of both of Liverpool and Arsenal’s teams, then they would fall down. For Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk, for Arsenal, Declan Rice.

“The difference between City, Liverpool and Arsenal is this: take Van Dijk or Rice out of their side, and neither club would be contenders. City would still be thriving without Foden. That is a reflection of the depth of their squad rather than intended to downplay his brilliance,” wrote the Reds legend.

Carragher makes Van Dijk claim

This is an interesting take from Carragher and one which may be dismissed by Liverpool supporters. However, it is one worth analysing.

Obviously, Van Dijk is not the sole reason for the Reds being in the position they are this season. The captain has been brilliant, and probably Liverpool’s best player, but he hasn’t done it all by himself.

Virgil does set a lot of the tone a lot of the time for the team, though. A big mistake at Arsenal and a harsh sending off at Newcastle aside, the Dutchman has barely put a foot wrong since the first whistle of the season.

With his commanding nature and ability to keep calm under pressure, Liverpool have been able to feed off of that.

Certainly, with young players coming into the team, Van Dijk’s constant presence has been a reassuring factor. It has sometimes felt as though the players in front of him have hardly mattered at all. As long as Virg is there, we’re going to be fine.

The Carabao Cup was the prime example of that. There’s a reason Gary Lineker described Virgil’s performance that day as ‘magnificent.’

So, in that sense, perhaps Carragher is right. Liverpool would still have been good without Van Dijk, but would they have been this good?

Recent history possibly has the answers for us. In Virgil’s six full seasons at Anfield, the Reds have now put up a title fight in four of them. Last season was last season and the issues have been well documented, but the other of those campaigns without a challenge was the year Van Dijk played just five games.

One anomaly of a season aside, Liverpool have always been right up there with their No.4 in the team. We still think they’d be a top side without him, but maybe Carragher is right. Van Dijk is the difference.