Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has prolonged his keep at Anfield.
The 33-year-old centre-back, who has signed a brand new two-year deal, is on the verge of lifting his second Premier League trophy with the Reds.
Van Dijk’s late winner towards West Ham on Sunday moved Arne Slot’s males 13 factors away from second-placed Arsenal with simply six league video games to play.
When he pissed off Manchester Metropolis striker Erling Haaland throughout a 2-0 win earlier within the season, ex-Reds defender Jamie Carragher declared on social media, exterior that Van Dijk is “one of the best centre-back we have ever seen within the Premier League”.
“I at all times stated it was John Terry earlier than Van Dijk got here alongside,” he continued.
“All nice defenders of the previous had attackers who brought about them issues, however who ever causes Van Dijk any?
“He is simply performed towards [Real Madrid’s Kylian] Mbappe and Haaland and performed them with such ease he might’ve performed with a cigar.
“Please cease this foolish debate about one of the best centre-back, it is not even shut.”
Netherlands defender Van Dijk has greater than justified the world-record £75m Liverpool paid Southampton to signal him in 2018 – serving to the Reds carry the Champions League in 2019 and finish a 30-year look ahead to a top-flight title in 2020.
The previous Celtic participant has gained 160 of his 229 Premier League video games for Liverpool, with a 69.9% win ratio.
Solely Arsenal legend Tony Adams, Chelsea icon Terry, and ex-Manchester United defenders Nemanja Vidic and Gary Pallister have the next clean-sheet share than Van Dijk’s 42.4% at Liverpool (of gamers with 200 or extra begins).
Van Dijk has gained the next share of duels and aerial duels than every other Premier League centre-back since he made his Liverpool debut.
Of centre-backs to have performed 3,500 minutes or extra since January 2018, Van Dijk has been dribbled previous much less usually per 90 minutes than anybody else. On common a participant will get previous him as soon as each seven video games (it has solely occurred 35 occasions).
And, since scoring in his Liverpool debut – a 2-1 victory over Merseyside rivals Everton – no defender has scored extra Premier League objectives than Van Dijk’s 20.
Talking earlier this season, former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton advised BBC Radio 5 Stay’s Monday Evening Membership: “[Ex-Leeds and Manchester United player] Rio Ferdinand was a barely completely different participant to Terry.
“Terry was an outstanding defender. Tony Adams was an excellent chief.
“I get the Van Dijk shout as nicely. He has completely the whole lot. Folks would have a look at Ferdinand’s trophy haul and say ‘nicely it needs to be him’.
“Presently yeah, I feel he’s – that is me kind of copping out a bit however John Terry was phenomenal as nicely although so can we now have a joint three – Terry, Ferdinand and Van Dijk?”
Ex-Republic of Eire goalkeeper Shay Given added it’s “all about completely different opinions”.
“Ferdinand, Terry, Vidic, Jonathan Woodgate in his prime earlier than he went to Actual Madrid, Colin Hendry at Blackburn, does John Stones get a point out in his prime?”
And he added “what a participant” Paul McGrath was.
We would like you to rank these 10 iconic Premier League centre-backs under. There have been so many high quality ones to select from that some legends needed to miss the lower.
