Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is enjoying a phenomenal season, with the defender one of the most important players under Arne Slot.
Van Dijk gave a rousing speech before Liverpool beat Man City on Sunday, with the Reds defeating the Manchester outfit 2-0 at Anfield.
Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah grabbed the headlines with their goals, but Van Dijk produced another very important display at the back.
Troy Deeney said Van Dijk produced a ‘masterclass’ against Pep Guardiola’s side, with Liverpool keeping their seventh Premier League clean sheet of the season.
Van Dijk helped guide his side to victory in several areas, with his leadership off the ball just as important as his ability on it for Slot.
Chris Sutton says if Virgil van Dijk is the best-ever Premier League centre-back
The top-class performance against Man City’s star names such as Erling Haaland, the league’s top scorer with 12 goals, generated an intriguing debate on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club.
Discussing the Premier League’s best-ever centre-back, former Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton shared his views, saying: “Rio Ferdinand was a slightly different player to [John] Terry. Terry was a phenomenal defender. Tony Adams was a brilliant leader.
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“I get the Van Dijk shout as well. He has absolutely everything. People would look at Ferdinand’s trophy haul and say ‘well it has to be him’.
“Currently yeah, I think he is – that’s me sort of copping out a bit but John Terry was phenomenal as well though so can we have a joint three – Terry, Ferdinand and Van Dijk?”
What are Virgil van Dijk’s defensive stats for Liverpool this season?
Van Dijk is certainly up against it when it comes to the competition’s all-time greats in his position, but he undoubtedly has a very strong case to be number one.
The likes of Terry and Ferdinand were very much old-school, no-nonsense defenders, with the current Reds captain adopting a different approach.
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Van Dijk is unquestionably rock-solid at the heart of defence, but the Netherlands international goes about his game effortlessly, often preventing opposition attacks with elegance and little trouble.
There is no doubt Liverpool are much better off with Van Dijk in their side, which is worrying given that his contract is set to expire next summer.
The Liverpool captain leads the way with seven clean sheets this season, with the defender having made 62 clearances and 36 headed clearances, with 43 aerial battles won, as per the Premier League website.
Van Dijk has even helped out at the other end of the pitch under Slot, with two goals and one assist from his 18 appearances in all competitions.
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