Harry Maguire vs Virgil Van Dijk: How the most expensive defenders in the world compare

Sunday's encounter between Manchester United and Liverpool provides the first opportunity for Harry Maguire and Virgil Van Dijk to come face-to-face since United eclipsed the fee Liverpool paid to make Van Dijk the most expensive defender of all-time to land Maguire in the summer.

Supporters scoffed at Liverpool for shelling out £75m to sign Van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018 but the Netherlands international has played an integral part in transforming Jurgen Klopp's side into one of the best in Europe in under two years. Van Dijk is now not only considered the best defender in the world but one of the top three players on the planet.

United have been left behind on and off the pitch by their Premier League rivals in a lot of departments since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and one area of investment in particular they have neglected is in defence. Manchester City spent well in excess of £200m on new defenders in Pep Guardiola's first two seasons alone, which former United manager Jose Mourinho lamented after being denied Maguire last summer due to Leicester's £60m demands.

Prior to this summer, United had never spent more than £35m on a defender in their history. City did that on four occasions in Guardiola's first two years. However, it was only watching Liverpool reap the rewards of breaking the bank to sign Van Dijk that convinced United's hierarchy to follow suit. So United spent £45m on right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and made Maguire the most expensive defender of all-time in a deal worth as much as £80m. Typically spending more than what they were quoted 12 months before.

When United host Liverpool on Sunday all eyes will be on both defenders and comparisons will naturally be made. Maguire enjoyed a solid United debut in their 4-0 win over Chelsea on the opening weekend but hasn't looked quite so assured since then. The 26-year-old even admitted during the international break England's defenders were suffering from low confidence at their respective clubs.

Maguire wasn't just signed by United to shore things up at the back, but also to provide an threat in the opposition box. United have unsurprisingly made Maguire the centre-point of their set-piece routines, perhaps too often, but the hulking centre-back is still looking for his first goal for the club. In fact, Maguire has been guilty of missing a few glorious opportunities for United, in matches they have dropped points.

Only Marcus Rashford (3) has missed more clear-cut goalscoring opportunities for United than Maguire in the league this season (2). Maguire's chances fell in United's 2-0 defeat away to West Ham and 1-0 loss at Newcastle before the international break. Maguire hasn't been a disappointment by any stretch of the imagination but there is still plenty to come from the former Leicester centre-back, which is at least positive for head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United languish 15 points behind Liverpool after just eight matches but only three teams have conceded fewer goals than the Red Devils in the Premier League this season (8). One of those teams is Liverpool, who unsurprisingly have the best defensive record in the division (6).

Van Dijk hasn't quite been at his best this season, which is worrying for their rivals given Liverpool's defensive record and the return of first-choice goalkeeper Alisson this weekend. In fact, Joel Matip has arguably been Liverpool's best defender this season, illustrated by the fact the 28-year-old is currently in the WhoScored Team of the Season in the Premier League.

Facing Liverpool is so difficult because they are so skilled at the back in different areas. Van Dijk is dominant in the air, winning 76.7% of the aerial duels he has contested in the league this season, while it has often proved impossible to get the better of him in a one-on-one duel. Last season Van Dijk remarkably was not dribbled past once in 38 league appearances. While he has been dribbled past twice in eight league games this term, United's out-of-form forwards are going to be for a frustrating afternoon on Sunday.

Van Dijk and Maguire are the two most expensive defenders of all-time for a reason and that is also reflected on Football INDEX. Van Dijk is the most expensive centre-back on the platform, currently trading at £2.69 a share, while Maguire is not far back, ranking third in his position (£1.97 a share).

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