Jonathan Walters claims the best way to get at Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is by getting ‘into his head’

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Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been a key player for his club this season.

Jonathan Walters has claimed that the best way to get the better of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is by getting ‘into his head’ after playing against him on a number of occasions.

The former Premier League striker shared that Van Dijk ‘gave it back’, but admitted that you can’t ‘outrun’ the 27-year-old because he’s ‘so comfortable’ on the ball and ‘good in the air’.

Van Dijk, who has represented the likes of Southampton, Celtic and Holland during his career, would have come up against Walters when he was at Stoke, Burnley and playing for his national side, the Republic of Ireland.

Speaking to Football Focus on BBC One (30/03/2019 at 12:25 pm), from his own personal experience, Walters shared how you can get the better of Van Dijk on the football pitch.

“Played against him a few times,” Walters told Football Focus. “You come across a player like Van Dijk, you are not really going to outrun him. He’s so comfortable on the ball. He’s good in the air.

“I’d give him a little bit off the ball. Get into his head. And that would take his mind off it a little bit. I enjoyed playing against him as well. Do you know what I liked about him? He gave it back! That just showed to me what type of player he is.”

On Sunday, Van Dijk helped Jurgen Klopp’s side record a valuable 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, which sent them back to the top of the Premier League table.

Roberto Firmino opened the scoring early on in the first half in what was a very open Premier League encounter. But after the break, Spurs grew into the game and were looking more threatening.

That paid off as Lucas Moura netted a deserved equaliser, but in the dying moments of the game, the home team scrabbled the ball home to the delight of the supporters.

There is no doubt that Van Dijk has been a key player for Liverpool during this campaign and could end up winning Player of the Year for his performances.