Michael Owen has claimed that Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is the greatest defender of all time, as he told Premier League Productions (05/03/22 at 7:45 pm).
The former striker, speaking after Liverpool’s 1-0 win over West Ham United on Saturday evening at Anfield, stated that he can’t see a fault in the ice-cool Dutchman’s game.
At the age of 30, Van Dijk could probably claim that he would get into Liverpool’s all-time XI, alongside Alan Hansen.
But to put him above every centre-back to have graced the footballing world is some statement.
Van Dijk still has years left in his locker, and could yet take further steps in the legendary status that he has built, but Owen thinks he is right at the top already.
“He plays in second gear and it’s too easy for him,” said Owen. “The game is easy for him.
“I will go one step further. I have never ever seen, in my lifetime, I don’t think I have seen a better defender. I have played against some great defenders. I don’t see what he can’t do.
“He is lighting fast. Brilliant on the ball. Scores goals. A beast in the air. He reads the game. A leader. I don’t know what he doesn’t do.
“If I think back at all the greats, Marcel Desailly was the best defender I played against. The likes of Rio and John Terry. Real Rolls-Royce. Then you go into some of the best defenders. I don’t think I have seen a better defender. He could be one of the greatest of all time.”
Following Liverpool’s 1-0 win over the Hammers, Van Dijk also set a long-standing Premier League record along the way.
The former Southampton and Celtic man hasn’t lost a game at Anfield for an incredible 60 league matches.
He beat Lee Sharpe’s record from the 1990s, which was, of course, set in the colours of Manchester United.
Either way, at the rate of knots Van Dijk is going at with this Liverpool team, it’s going to take something special to just beat them at this rate because they look formidable.
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