Manchester United legend Gary Neville has identified Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk as the player who has impressed him most in the Premier League this season.
The Spy Sports pundit revealed a long list of players who have caught his eye this campaign, but the Reds star, on a reported £150,000-per-week at Anfield [Source: Spotrac], was the pick of the bunch.
“[James] Milner – Liverpool, they’ve been outstanding,” he told Sky Sports’s Super Six. “Van Dijk – outstanding. Luke Shaw at Manchester United, I’ve got full belief in him as a player and as a talent, I just feel he needs that break in terms of staying clear of injuries.
“Eden Hazard, David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, they’re brilliant players. Van Dijk, worryingly because he plays for Liverpool, has impressed me more than probably anybody, he’s a fantastic central defender,” he finished.
? We asked @GNev2 who has impressed him most in the #PremierLeague…
? Agree? pic.twitter.com/voabi4eWZf
— Super 6 (@Super6) October 4, 2018
OPINION
Saying that Van Dijk has impressed him more than any other player in the Premier League is a big claim from Neville, but it tells you all you need to know about how impressive the Dutch international has been for Liverpool. He is arguably the Reds’ most important player and that’s been recognised in Neville’s assessment of him. You can see that he doesn’t like praising Liverpool players, but even Neville has to hold his hands up when it comes to Van Dijk. The former Southampton man has turned out to be money very well spent by Jurgen Klopp, and he’s only going to get better as the season goes on. He makes everyone around him better, and that’s why he’s such a terrific player. Whether he’s been the single most impressive Premier League player or not is a matter of personal perspective – indeed, Hazard might have something to say about it – but he’s certainly been vital to Liverpool’s early season success.
