Paul Merson has claimed that Liverpool will be a ‘different animal’ in the Premier League again this season with Virgil van Dijk back.
This time last year, Liverpool sealed their first top-flight league title in 30 years by crushing the competition.
But the Reds endured a horrific defence of that crown and finished 17 points behind Manchester City in the end.
Much of that was down to the fact that Jurgen Klopp had no stability in defence for most of the season, with Van Dijk and Joe Gomez suffering season-ending injuries as early as October.
The Netherlands international is one of the game’s finest centre-backs and there’s no doubt that the Anfield club – who spent £75 million on him in 2018 – missed the big man in a major way.
The good news is that he is back in full training as Liverpool continue to prepare for the 2021-22 campaign, which begins with a trip to Norwich City on August 14.
And Merson believes that Klopp’s side will be back to their best with the former Southampton and Celtic powerhouse returning to the first XI.
He wrote in The Daily Star: “Liverpool will be a different animal with Virgil Van Dijk back. He gets them pushed up and playing on the halfway line.
“Last season was a wake-up call for them and they will be massive contenders this time around. I think they will sign players too, and the front three will be fresher. They will have a point to prove.”
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