Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has come to the defence of Virgil van Dijk, insisting that the Dutch international is “far better than Nemanja Vidic”. Van Dijk has recently been criticised for his performances for Liverpool, including in their 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday when he accidentally sent the ball into the path of Gabriel Martinelli, who scored the opening goal. However, Carragher took to Twitter to hit back at the criticisms, stating that Van Dijk is the “best centre-back in the league” and that “no CB in the PL era has ever had VVD’s impact on a team”.
Carragher also referenced Vidic’s poor performance against Liverpool in 2009, when Fernando Torres scored twice and caused problems for the Serbian defender. While Vidic was a top centre-back, Carragher believes that Van Dijk has had a greater impact on Liverpool and the Premier League in general.
Since joining Liverpool from Southampton in 2017, Van Dijk has helped the club reach three Champions League finals, winning one in 2019. He also played a crucial role in ending Liverpool’s 30-year title drought as they became Premier League champions in 2020. In addition to these achievements, Van Dijk has lifted the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup during his time at Anfield.
Vidic, who spent eight years at Manchester United after arriving from Spartak Moscow in 2006, won the Champions League and Premier League title five times. He also won three League Cups and the FIFA World Club Cup during his time at Old Trafford. While Vidic was undoubtedly a top defender, Carragher believes that Van Dijk has had a greater impact on Liverpool and the Premier League as a whole.
Carragher’s defence of Van Dijk comes at a time when the Liverpool defender has been criticised for his performances. However, the former Liverpool star believes that Van Dijk’s impact on Liverpool and the Premier League cannot be understated, and that he is one of the best defenders in the world. With Liverpool currently struggling to defend their Premier League title, Van Dijk’s performances will be crucial if they are to mount a successful defence.