KIRKBY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on November 25, 2021 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool face Southampton this weekend and it seems Virgil van Dijk will be closely watched by Saints defender Mohammed Salisu.
It speaks volumes about the work that Jurgen Klopp has done at Anfield, as his players are now regularly referred to as the best in their position or in the world outright.
Van Dijk is still on the path to full recovery from his ACL injury and it has been clear at times this season that he’s not at his very best just yet, appearing to be slower and more sluggish on occasions.
However, he looked as sharp as he has all season when Liverpool strolled to a 4-0 win over Arsenal, with the massive Dutchman pinging the ball 60 yards to Mohamed Salah with ease.
Southampton signed Salisu for £10.9m in 2020 and he has been impressive this season. Speaking to the Daily Echo, he praised van Dijk and stated that he wants ‘to be like him’ one day.
The Ghanaian ace said: “I think Virgil is a very good central defender and, I would say, is one of the very best central defenders in the world.
“One day, I want to be like him, especially with how he plays and the confidence he has and how he leads the team.”
While Liverpool were correctly slammed for not making more signings in the summer, their work to get contracts for key players sorted has perhaps not received the praise it warrants.
Tying van Dijk down to a new long-term deal was particularly important, as he should be the reigning best centre-back in the world for at least a few more years.
Even if his level dips slightly, he will still be operating at an insane level, which gives Liverpool the ability to drive forward in attack as they have been this season.
Appropriately, Jordan Henderson labelled him as an unbelievable player last year.
He told BT Sport: “I couldn’t speak highly enough of him as a player. He’s won his individual awards and rightly so. He’s an unbelievable defender, an unbelievable player.”
