Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood names surprise former Liverpool defender as toughest ever opponent

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Liverpool have the best defence in the Premier League this season as they aim to lift the title in May.

The Reds have been built on solid foundations under Arne Slot, having conceded 20 goals in 22 matches.

Key to everything has been captain Virgil van Dijk, who is still rightly regarded as one of the best defenders in world football.

While Van Dijk is perfect most of the time, though, he does have the odd lapse in concentration in him.

One of those came away at Nottingham Forest earlier in January, when the 33-year-old stepped back a little too far to play Chris Wood onside and allow the in-form striker to score.

Nevertheless, Wood has still named Van Dijk as his toughest ever opponent in a new interview with Optus Sport. As it turns out, though, the New Zealander also hold a slightly surprise former Liverpool centre-back in equally high regard.

Chris Wood makes Martin Skrtel admission

Wood has been one of the most lethal strikers in the Premier League this season. The former Burnley hit-man has scored 14 goals in 23 matches, leading Forest’s unlikely charge towards a Champions League place.

Liverpool couldn’t stop him and neither have most of the division. Wood has simply been on fire.

That has not always been the case, though. After a slightly nomadic career in England, the 33-year-old has faced all kinds of defenders, and has often come out second best.

And according to the man himself, one player who always gave him a tough time was former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.

READ MORE: Lucas Leiva and Martin Skrtel name their joint all-time Liverpool five-a-side team

“I always say Van Dijk at the moment is the best defender you’d come against,” Wood says after being asked to name the most difficult player he’s ever faced.

“But Skrtel at Liverpool as well back in the day. He was one of those defenders that just never let you rest, always pinching you and prodding you and just being on your nerves.”

“I think he kind of put strikers off a bit, he was one of the tougher ones and he got stuck in.”

Skrtel finally gets his due

Although Skrtel ended up playing 320 games for Liverpool, there is a feeling that he is perhaps slightly underrated by the fanbase.

Perhaps it’s because he didn’t really win anything of note with the Reds, or maybe it’s because he ultimately ended up falling out with Jurgen Klopp.

But, whatever the reason, Wood’s words are a reminder that Skrtel was a very good defender on his day.

Whether partnered with Daniel Agger, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher or Mamadou Sakho, the Slovakian was one of the best defenders around on his day.

Unfortunately, if Skrtel was having an off-day, then he could also look like a player who should be nowhere near the Liverpool squad. It sounds as though Wood never faced him on one of those days.