Gary Neville told Sky Sports PL (23/08/21 at 7:40 pm) that Virgil van Dijk will be telling his Liverpool teammate Fabinho to offer him protection when he faces off against Romelu Lukaku on Saturday.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool will lock horns in a mouthwatering contest at Anfield, with Lukaku set to compete against Van Dijk in one of the top individual battles of the Premier League season so far.
Whilst Arsenal’s centre-back’s, especially Pablo Mari, struggled against the Belgian, it’s going to be a different challenge altogether when he takes on Liverpool.
Many consider the ice-cool Dutchman as the best defender, not just in England, but in Europe.
So, facing off against a striker in the best form of his life, will be worth watching.
But Neville feels as good as Van Dijk is for Liverpool, he will not want that physical battle with Chelsea’s big-money signing.
“If you are Van Dijk, as great as a centre-back as he is,” said Neville. “I am sure, let’s say it’s Fabinho and he’s back at the weekend, he is going to say to him ‘get in front of me and shield that pass into me’.
“He’s still not going to want that ball played into him.”
There’s no doubt that Lukaku will cause havoc against many teams this season.
But come this weekend, it’s going to be perhaps his biggest test he will face and one where he can lay down his marker.
If he gets the better of Van Dijk here, and helps Chelsea to the win, then it would be a real statement from the player himself and in his team wanting to win the Premier League title this season.
But Van Dijk, now back from injury, will want to send his own message, as Liverpool aren’t being spoken as loud as others to win the title this term.
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