‘Players are even scared’: Agbonlahor makes claim about Liverpool 29-year-old

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Gabby Agbonlahor has told Sky Sports (18/10/20 at 10:10 am) that he’s noticed how opposition players are now ‘scared’ of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

The 29-year-old is set to spend a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury in the Merseyside derby and Agbonlahor feels it now opens up the Premier League title race.

Van Dijk was on the wrong end of a reckless and out of control tackle from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Agbonlahor, who played against the likes of Rio Ferdinand during his career, compared Liverpool’s rock to the Manchester United legend after news came out that he is now set to be absent for a long period.

“I make an example to Van Dijk to the likes of Ferdinand and Kompany,” Agbonlahor told Sky Sports. “When I played against them guys, you didn’t even try and run into the channels or make runs in-behind.

“If you did, they would get there before you, they would turn and start dribbling past you. And I see the same sort of class in Van Dijk.

“I mean players are even scared to even play on his side. I am sure players would play on the opposite to Van Dijk. But to lose him for most of the season then it’s going to be a major loss for Liverpool. Other teams will be kicking themselves thinking ‘this is our chance now to try and win the title’.”

This is a crushing blow for the Reds because Van Dijk has turned himself into arguably the best centre-half in the world since that big-money move to Anfield in 2018.

Whilst Jurgen Klopp has other important players at his disposal, such as Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, there’s no-one that could seemingly cover for their Dutchman.

If Mane is missing for Liverpool then they have Salah scaring the opposition defences into sleepless nights and vice versa. But with Van Dijk, opposing teams will now have an extra spring in their step because such a key figure is missing for the champions of England.