Rio Ferdinand has told BT Sport’s Premier League that Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is reveling with the added pressure on his shoulders. The Dutchman captained the Reds on Thursday night, against Leicester City.
Van Dijk, 30, is becoming more and more of a leader at Anfield – donning the armband in the absence of England midfielder Jordan Henderson. He played a big part in the Reds win, and certainly, their opening goal.
His header was parried by Kasper Schmeichel, only into the path of Diogo Jota who tapped in. The Portuguese attacker took his tally to 17 for the season, in the second half when he cutely finished to make it 2-0.
A brilliant win, and van Dijk was central to that – although Jota unsurprisingly got the man-of-the-match award. Ferdinand heaped praise on the Netherlands international, on Premier League Tonight.
“He was class today. At United, you get to a point where you start to become a leader. It brings something else out of you. Top players deal with pressure. He grows in that role, he deals with pressure. He will become a leader.”
Ferdinand on van Dijk: Liverpool star getting better with age
That is, even sitting out the majority of last season with a long-term knee injury. Van Dijk, regardless of the added pressure and captaincy, is getting better and better with every minute he plays under Jurgen Klopp.
His absence is greatly felt, as proved by last season. The defender is a genius, one of the best of his generation and if Liverpool are to maintain a title charge, they will need van Dijk for every minute of every game.
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