In the most difficult moments, you need your best players to step up and showcase their worth and Virgil van Dijk did just that for Liverpool on Wednesday night.
An injury-hit Liverpool team took to the field trying to enhance their lead at the top of the Premier League table, but found themselves 1-0 down against relegation-threatened Luton Town.
The mood around Anfield was flat, the team was lacking that bite in their play and a spark was needed from somewhere.
That’s where Virgil van Dijk stuck his chest out and equalised from a corner to start the ball rolling.
John Hartson lauded the centre-back and how he is ‘the best in the world’ and just ‘so good’ at what he does, as he told Premier League Productions (21/02/24 at 9:35 pm).
It wasn’t just the goal that impressed the legendary striker, but the leadership skills and overall play from the ice-cool defender.
This could prove to be a big moment in the Premier League title race because this was turning into a potential banana skin, especially with the number of players out for the Reds.
But, instead, Liverpool are five points clear at the top, with a better goal difference than Manchester City and Arsenal, who will now have to deal with the pressure at the weekend.
Virgil van Dijk leads Liverpool to win against Luton
“He has been terrific again all season,” said Hartson. “Tonight, they are 1-0 down, they didn’t feel sorry for themselves, Liverpool.
“They knew they had patience in the second half and they would come back and score goals. Him with the equaliser, a really good captain’s performance.
“But we say this all the time about him. He’s so, so consistent. He’s so good. I would really put him up with, if not the best centre-back in the world, and he has been for a long time now.”
Virgil van Dijk’s importance
With the senior players on the sidelines, this is going to test Liverpool’s squad depth and the adaptability of the manager.
It’s one thing falling 1-0 behind to a team like Luton and still going on to win in a comfortable manner in front of your own supporters.
But it’s going to be a different test altogether if it happens against a rejuvenated Chelsea at Wembley in the League Cup final on Sunday.
Liverpool fans will be hoping for some positive news on the injury front because, even if someone like Mohamed Salah can return, then it could prove to be a game-changer.
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