Joleon Lescott waxes-lyrical about Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, compares him with Aymeric Laporte

Follow us on Google Discover

Virgil van Dijk has been a key player for Liverpool in their Premier League title race this season.

Joleon Lescott has admitted that Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the league as he feels he edges out someone like Aymeric Laporte because he has more ‘class’ than the Manchester City player.

Both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are going head to head in who will be crowned Premier League champions at the end of the campaign, with the Manchester club currently holding a one-point lead on their rivals.

Throughout the season, Van Dijk has been a rock at the heart of his club’s defence, where he has played a key part in them having the best defence in the division – only 15 goals conceded from their 29 league encounters.

Speaking to the Debate Show on Sky Sports Premier League (06/03/2019 at 10:55 pm), Lescott was full of praise for Van Dijk as he explained why he is the best.

“I think so,” Lescott told Sky Sports PL. “There’s no situation that fazes him. He looks composed in every scenario. Even when he is clearing it, it’s calm, it’s never lashed out. Everything he does, it’s what he’s meant to do.

“Laporte as well. He’s done well. They came at the same time, a similar number of games and have had a similar impact. But, Van Dijk, I think he just oozes a bit of class.”

Both Van Dijk and Laporte walked through the doors of their respective clubs during the 2018 January window, with the Dutchman helping the Reds to the Champions League final and the Frenchman winning the Premier League title.

This season, City have already lifted the League Cup, they are still in the FA Cup, Champions League and are sitting top of the pile in England’s top-flight.

While the Reds are still in Europe too, there is no doubt that their attention will be more towards becoming English champions and ending a near-30-year wait for a title.

This weekend, City play Watford on home soil on Saturday evening and they can open up a four-point lead on their title rivals, who play Burnley at Anfield on the following day.