Newcastle vs Liverpool Preview: Another chance for Virgil van Dijk to justify best defender claims

 

For quite a while, there was a serious debate over who was the best defender in Premier League history.  

 

Jaap Stam was only in England for a brief period but he made quite the impression. Rio Ferdinand was in the conversation. Manchester United shoehorned Nemanja Vidic into discussions too. There was also Chelsea legend John Terry while Arsenal fans would offer up Tony Adams and Sol Campbell.  

 

Liverpool fans had more of a watching brief during these discussions. (Sorry, Carra) 

 

 

Now, though, the Reds not only partake in the conversation. They dominate it. All because of Virgil van Dijk.  

 

Rival fans will argue against it, after all nostalgia can be dangerous, but the Liverpool skipper is comfortably the best defender in Premier League history.  

 

For a while, it was claimed that the Dutch international didn’t have the longevity at the elite level to gatecrash the conversation. He’s into his 10th season as a Premier League player now and he’s been plying his trade on Merseyside since January 2018.  

 

Van Dijk has won everything there is to win with Liverpool. He’s been part of a team to hit 90+ points in the English top flight on three occasions. He’s played in three Champions League finals too. Even before the switch to the Reds, he was performing at a high level. He must’ve been to have Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United vying for his services. There must’ve been something there for Liverpool, famed for being frugal spenders, to think the Dutchman warranted a £75m transfer fee.  

 

He has the longevity. He’s been a key part of a successful team. As an individual, he’s been a colossus. For a period, rival fans would celebrate if a player managed to complete a take-on against the Liverpool No.4.  

 

For context, he went 50 games without an opponent completing a take-on. His individual performances were acknowledged in the 2019 Ballon d’Or when he finished as a runner-up to Lionel Messi, the greatest footballer of all time. And he only narrowly missed out.  

 

He can play in a high defensive line. He can play in a low-block. He’s comfortable defending space as well as the channels. He’s dominant in the air and backs himself in duels when isolated. In the past, Van Dijk has been isolated against the likes of Heung-Min Son, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. He has, rather famously, come out on top in these battles.  

 

 

The 33-year-old can do what Ferdinand, Terry and Vidic did. They can’t do what he did though. Jamie Carragher said as much on social media following Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City.

 

Van Dijk bossed Haaland, the Premier League’s top scorer.  

 

He won 75% of his aerial duels in the game, made the most interceptions (3), and completed 92.5% of his passes at Anfield on Sunday evening.  

 

The former Liverpool centre-back said Van Dijk is: "the best centre-back we've ever seen in the Premier League".  

 

"I always said it was John Terry before Van Dijk came along. All great defenders of the past had attackers who caused them problems, but who ever causes Van Dijk any? He's just played against [Real Madrid's Kylian] Mbappe and Haaland in the last four days and played them with such ease he could've played with a cigar. Please stop this silly debate about the best centre-back, it's not even close." 

 

And it is hard to argue with the Sky Sports pundit, isn’t it?  

 

Van Dijk recovered from an ACL injury to reclaim his crown as the best defender in the Premier League. No matter who he’s paired with, his performances rarely falter. He raises the floor of whoever partners him. There’s a reason why Liverpool, despite so many injuries, have the meanest defence in the Premier League this term. They’re the only team in the English top-flight to still be in single digits for goals conceded after 13 matches.  

 

The only Liverpool player with a higher WhoScored average rating this term is Mohamed Salah. And there’s no shame in being second to him, he’s the player with the most goal involvements in the Premier League this season. For context, Van Dijk is the best rated defender in the Premier League. 

 

If Van Dijk is able to keep the Reds in contention for a title in what should be a transitional year under a new manager, his CV will, somehow, look even more impressive. To keep their title hopes on track, Liverpool need to treat the upcoming fixtures with the same level of respect they went into games against Manchester City and Real Madrid with.  

 

 

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Newcastle United, on Wednesday evening, have Alexander Isak, a player who always seems to threaten the Reds. On Saturday afternoon, Liverpool travel to Goodison Park for the first Merseyside derby of the season against a struggling Everton side. Sean Dyche’s men are always physical and Slot’s skipper will likely have to put in a battering ram-esque performance.  

 

If Liverpool come away from both matches unscathed, Van Dijk could be captaining the Reds to the title.

Newcastle vs Liverpool Preview: Another chance for Virgil van Dijk to justify best defender claims