‘No weaknesses’: Pundit says Liverpool star is better than Old Trafford and England icons

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Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy spoke on talkSPORT about Virgil van Dijk and how he compares to some of the greatest centre-backs the Premier League has seen.

Van Dijk has been the talk of the town since it was announced that he has to undergo surgery. The Dutchman’s absence is a massive blow for the Reds, who now have to work a lot harder to retain the Premier League title.

Liverpool are a different animal when Van Dijk starts. The Reds’ win rate in all competitions drops by almost 30% when the former Saints star doesn’t start for them, which makes him arguably their most important player.

Murphy believes that the Dutchman’s absence is a big blow for the Reds as he is the greatest defender the Premier League has ever seen. The former Liverpool man claims that Van Dijk is even better than English icons John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, who are widely regarded as the greatest in this country.

He said: “I was very fortunate to play with Rio Ferdinand in his pomp with England. He was one of the very best centre-halves I’ve ever seen as well. But Van Dijk for me is the full package. There are no weaknesses in his game.

“I think his long-range passing may be better than Rio’s but we are splitting hairs. The only thing that Van Dijk missing to become the best is longevity because what Rio and [John] Terry did is play over a decade and won trophies in that time. That’s what Van Dijk has got to do.

“But if you are making a centre-half on a computer, he would come out. I’ve played against a lot and seen a lot, and I’ve never seen a centre-half make it so easy. It is effortless for him.”

Van Dijk is certainly up there with the best defenders the Premier League has ever seen. The Dutchman has played a massive part in helping Liverpool do what they have over the last two years, but is he better than the likes of Ferdinand and Terry?

The Manchester United star won 16 trophies in his career at Old Trafford while the Chelsea legend managed 17 trophies for the Blues. Van Dijk, in his five years in the Premier League, has four trophies to his name. He will have to achieve a lot more to be regarded at the same level as Terry and Ferdinand, which is still possible considering that he is only 29.