A pundit’s take on Virgil van Dijk: Is he worthy of the title of “the Premier League’s all-time best defender”?
- Virgil van Dijk is doing a great job at Liverpool.
- This player has been a key player for the Reds for many years.
- Now 33, he is often compared to legendary defenders.
Virgil van Dijk, the captain of Liverpool, a giant club in the English Premier League, is showing strong form, leading the “Reds” to lead the score table, leaving 2nd place by 7 points and 9 points away from the 4-time champion , Manchester City.
With Van Dijk ‘s excellent defensive performance since the start of the 2024-2025 season, former Liverpool centre-half Jamie Carragher, who is now a pundit, has declared on social media that the 33-year-old Dutchman is the best of the Premier League era.
Carragher said: “Van Dijk is the best defender we’ve ever seen in the Premier League. I’ve always said it was John Terry before Van Dijk came along. All the great defenders in the past have had attacking players who have caused them problems. Who has Van Dijk caused you problems?”
“This season, he has faced Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and has dealt with them with ease. So please stop this ridiculous debate about the best defender.”
Since joining Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018 for a then world record £75m, Van Dijk has shown he has been a valuable investment, helping the Reds to a host of major trophies.
The former Celtic defender has won 148 of his 210 Premier League games with Liverpool, with a win rate of 70.5%, behind only Manchester City‘s John Stones and former Manchester United player Nemanja Vidic.
Meanwhile, only Vidic, Arsenal legend Tony Adams and Terry have a higher clean sheet percentage than Van Dijk, who averages 43% per game, among players who have started 200 games or more.
Former Blackburn Rovers striker
Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club: “Rio Ferdinand was a slightly different defender to Terry, but Terry was a fantastic defender and Tony Adams was a great leader.”
“I admire Van Dijk as well, he’s a complete player. But people often look at Ferdinand’s trophies at Manchester United and say, ‘He’s the best defender ever.’ I don’t think that’s wrong.”
“But John Terry is also excellent. Or maybe we should put all three of them, Terry, Ferdinand and Van Dijk, in the same ทางเข้า ufabet https://ufabet999.app group.”
Former Newcastle United and Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given added: “It’s a matter of opinion. Ferdinand, Terry, Vidic, Jonathan Woodgate in his prime before he went to Real Madrid, Colin Hendry at Blackburn, John Stones should be mentioned in his prime as well. For me, they’re top defenders.”