Liverpool’s defence have shown they are simply a level above everyone else in the Premier League this season.
The Reds have conceded just six goals across 11 matches so far. No other team even comes close.
Although all of the Liverpool squad have contributed, that stunning record has largely been built on the centre-back partnership between Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
And while Konate has arguably been better than Van Dijk this term, it is the Liverpool captain who takes the headlines more often than not.
Ever since his arrival at Anfield almost seven years ago, Van Dijk has marked himself out as one of the best defenders in world football.
The 33-year-old is an icon of the sport and as Levi Colwill of Chelsea has now confirmed, it is a genuine honour for rivals to come up against him.
Levi Colwill left amazed by Virgil van Dijk
Colwill has been having a good season himself with Chelsea. After nailing down a spot in Enzo Maresca’s defence, the 21-year-old looks to be making good on his potential.
Had things turned out differently, Colwill could have been doing that at Liverpool, alongside Van Dijk.
Liverpool were strongly linked with a £40m move for Colwill during the summer of 2023, but the England man eventually stayed at Chelsea.
Nevertheless, it has been claimed that Colwill was a Liverpool fan growing up. And judging by his answer when asked who the first ‘idol’ he ever played against was, that rings kind of true.
“Last year when we played Liverpool in the first game of the season I played Virg for the first time.” the centre-back told TNT Sports.
“I remember marking him in the box and he said something to me, and I told him ‘shut up’ accidentally or something like that. And he just looked at me like ‘who’s this little boy’ and I just thought ‘ah, I’ve just disrespected him! My bad, my bad!’
“It was crazy, just looking at him thinking ‘I want to be like that or better when I’m older.'”
Levi Colwill should regret Liverpool snub
It is no surprise to hear how highly Colwill rates Van Dijk. The Reds skipper is still the standard for any aspiring centre-back.
For the likes of Konate, Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez, Van Dijk has proved to be the perfect mentor at Liverpool.
All three have undoubtedly benefitted enormous amounts by learning every day from Virgil at the Liverpool training ground.
Had Colwill played his cards differently, that could have been him. The Chelsea academy graduate is obviously a talented defender who could have really honed his skills alongside one of his idols.
Given the current circumstances of both players, that chance will be unlikely to come around again.
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