NEW POST – VIRGIL VAN DIJK IS NOT THE BEST DEFENDER IN PREMIER LEAGUE
Ever since Virgil Van Dijk has entered the frame for Liverpool back in January earlier this year, the Reds have improved immensely at the back.
There were a lot of questions raised when the Dutchman arrived at Anfield for a staggering amount of £75 million but after a number of smooth displays, Van Dijk has answered his critics in a very stylish manner.
There were plenty of Liverpool fans crying out for the club to sign a world class defender as the main reason for not winning a trophy in ages was a defensive problem. Liverpool was always very good in attack but there was no balance that helped the team as the defense always conceded silly and sloppy goals. However, after the signing of Virgil Van Dijk in January, Liverpool have kept the most number of clean sheets in the Premier League and also made it to the Champions League final last term. The 27-year-old has organized the Liverpool defense in such a manner that opposition teams have to really struggle in order to break the back line or come up with moments of brilliance. And now the question is finally being put out there, Is Virgil Van Dijk the best defender in the world?
Towering at 6 feet and 5 inches, Van Dijk turns most of the aerial duels favoring himself leaving very little for strikers that win headers in his area of command. But what’s more impressive about the Dutchman is the fact that he has taken a leaky defense and converted it into a shield. The last time Liverpool conceded a Premier League goal at Anfield was back in February making the home of the Merseyside club a fortress once again.
When we think of the best defender in the world, we usually think of Sergio Ramos as the Spaniard has managed to win every single competition that he has played in. The 32-year-old Ramos will do anything on the football pitch to win but has often been criticized for his rash nature as well. His defensive partner Raphael Varane is also among the top defenders in the world having recently helped his national side France to win the World Cup this summer. Van Dijk and Varane are similar when it comes to physicality, speed and being put in one on one situations with the best players in the world. But surely Van Dijk is a better passer of the ball than Varane which puts him in a level above the Frenchman.
And Van Dijk is not rash like Ramos either, many footballing pundits describe the Liverpool defender as a ‘Rolls Royce’ on the football pitch because of his classy displays and presence on the pitch. His confidence and arrogance on the pitch are measured with the ability and a sense of drive towards helping and contributing for the team.
It’s a difficult question to answer at the moment as Van Dijk still has to win trophies in order to be renowned as the Best Defender In The World, but he is definitely not too far that honor according to me.
