Jurgen Klopp Reaffirms Virgil van Dijk’s Status as the Best Defender in the World
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has once again emphasized that Virgil van Dijk is the “best defender in the world.” Despite a dip in form last season following his ACL injury, Van Dijk has returned to his dominant self this season and has been instrumental in Liverpool’s success under Klopp.
In Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Sheffield United, Van Dijk scored his first goal of the campaign and was widely regarded as the Man of the Match. As Liverpool prepares for their upcoming match against Crystal Palace, Klopp was asked about the importance of Van Dijk’s consistency.
Klopp responded, “It always was, always will be. Virg is the best defender in the world.” He went on to highlight that even players like Rio Ferdinand, Jaap Stam, and Sami Hyypia had their fair share of lesser good spells. No defender is perfect all the time, and Van Dijk’s current form is crucial for Liverpool’s success.
With his goal against Sheffield United, Van Dijk surpassed Sol Campbell in the all-time Premier League goal-scoring list for center-backs. Only five players have scored more goals from that position, including Hyypia, Matt Elliott, Laurent Koscielny, Gary Cahill, and John Terry.
Van Dijk has already captained Liverpool on 57 occasions and continues to make a significant impact on the team. While Steven Gerrard holds the club record for the most games as captain with 471, Van Dijk’s leadership and defensive prowess have made him an integral part of Liverpool’s success.
Overall, Klopp’s praise for Van Dijk highlights the defender’s exceptional skills and contributions to Liverpool’s achievements. As the best defender in the world, Van Dijk’s consistency and form are crucial for Liverpool’s continued success in the Premier League.