Liverpool have been much improved since Virgil van Dijk arrived.
Liverpool bought Vigril van Dijk for a colossal £75 million from Southampton last January, which is a world record fee for a defender.
However, the Netherlands captain has certainly put in many colossal performances since then, and is becoming as influential as some of the world’s greatest ever centre backs.
Jurgen Klopp’s side has conceded only five Premier League goals in 12 games this season, the joint fewest along with table toppers and champions Manchester City.
The Reds have also kept seven clean sheets in the league so far, and the commanding performances of the Dutchman has been a major factor in that.
Before Van Dijk joined Liverpool midway through last season, in the 24 games prior to his arrival, Klopp’s side had conceded a total of 28 goals, which is 1.17 per game.
However, since Van Dijk’s big money arrival, the Reds have conceded only 15 goals in 26 league games, an average of 0.58 per match.
The stats don’t lie when looking at Van Dijk’s importance to Liverpool, and the eye test backs up those facts as well.
The former Celtic centre-half is a physical beast, standing at 6 ft 4 and weighing 92kg.
Van Dijk uses his enormous presence to dominate the opposition, both in the air and on the floor, defending as well as attacking, proven with his injury time equaliser against Germany.
It was an expertly taken volley, proving he can be a beauty as much of a beast with his wonderful technical ability.
Van Dijk is a wonderful reader of the game, and is a rarity for a modern day centre half in the sense he can play with the ball at his feet, as well as defend crosses coming into the box and organise a defence.
It is these reasons as to why Liverpool broke the world record transfer fee for a defender, and whilst eyebrows were certainly raised at the time, the former Southampton man is proving to be worth every penny and is now arguably the best defender in world football.
However, Van Dijk should also start to be mentioned in the same breath as some of the world’s greatest centre backs of all time, such is his influence for club and country.
The likes of John Terry at Chelsea, Rio Ferdinand at Manchester United, Alessandro Nesta at AC Milan and Gerard Pique at Barcelona all became dominating presences for their side, and were the rocks that their extremely successful and trophy laden sides could build a team up from.
Granted, Van Dijk is yet to win a major trophy since his move to England, however his influence for Liverpool and the Netherlands cannot be ignored.
Klopp’s side reached the Champions League final last season, much to the surprise of many, and although the goalscoring exploits of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino were major reasons for that, the steel, organisation and composure on the ball from Van Dijk was also a huge reason.
Liverpool currently sit second in the league to Manchester City, despite going unbeaten in their opening 12 league games of the season, and Van Dijk will be a crucial component of the side if they wish to somehow overhaul the juggernaut that is Pep Guardiola’s City.
Granted, many will say Van Dijk will have to begin winning major titles if he is to seriously be held in the same breath as the likes of Nesta, Ferdinand and Terry, but his importance to Liverpool has been so great since his signing less than a year ago, it would be unwise to bet against that happening.
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