Current leader of the Premier League with nine points ahead of rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as eleven points more than Manchester City, beaten this Sunday 2-0, Liverpool is in an ultra-positive dynamic. The Reds can boast of having a flamboyant Mohamed Salah in attack who enhances the work of his teammates. In defense, another boss walks on water and his name is Virgil van Dijk. Although he is now 33 years old, the Dutch defender is producing high quality football at the start of the year. A great reward for the 2nd in the 2019 Ballon d’Or who reached his best level five years ago when the Reds won the Champions League.
Following up with a championship title during the 2019-2020 season, he suffered a cruciate ligament rupture during the 2020-2021 financial year which will prevent him from returning to his best level. If this was not seen too much during the 2021-2022 season where he performed well as a finalist in the Champions League with the Reds, the following year was greatly complicated and ended with the sad 5th place for the Reds in the Premier League. Having returned to a good level last season, Virgil van Dijk has further increased the consistency of his performances over the last few months and all of Liverpool has seen an improvement. Leader of the Premier League and the Champions League, the club on the banks of the Mersey is moving forward at a brisk pace and owes this in part to the native of Breda.
Virgil van Dijk has a turning point
“Van Dijk’s performance today was incredible! He made Erling Haaland pass for Alf-Inge Haaland (his father, editor’s note)! Best striker versus best central defender should be a big battle, but it’s so easy for him. He’s the best central defender we’ve ever seen in the Premier League. (…) All the great defenders of the past have had attackers who caused them problems, but who causes problems for Van Dijk? He just played against Mbappé and Haaland in the last four days and he played them with such ease he could have played with a cigar», greeted Jamie Carragher, the legend of the Reds, on his social networks after Sunday’s match against Manchester City.
Thriving alongside Ibrahima Konaté in Arne Slot’s 4-2-3-1 but capable of shining with another partner like Sunday with Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, who was one of Jürgen Klopp’s relays, is totally fan of his new coach. “It’s solid. We feel like we are making good progress. I want to be there at the end of the season – that’s the goal and you can’t think about what will be there in January or February. Now it’s Newcastle and we’re doing everything in our power to be ready for a big game there too“, he said. Because yes, Virgil van Dijk is reaching a turning point in his adventure with the Reds. At the end of his contract this summer, he is discussing a new lease even if nothing has been signed at the moment. Will he stay or will he change direction? The doubt is in any case present and Liverpool intends to take full advantage of one of its strong men at least until the end of the season.
