Signing Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk have made Liverpool “the real deal”, according to club legend Steve Nicol.
The Reds signed van Dijk last January before swooping for the Brazilian stopper over the summer, and Nicol believes that the two signings have massively improved Jurgen Klopp’s side, launching them into the giants of world football.
As quoted in the Mirror, he said: “The owners and Klopp are all about the Premier League and the Champions League and I think we’re beginning to see that, certainly from last year and now this year with Liverpool sat top of the league.
“I think they did that [change their transfer approach]. They did that when they signed Van Dijk and when they signed Alisson Becker in goal.
“I think that has catapulted them into the realms of anybody in the world, including your Barcelonas and your Real Madrids, that play Liverpool, have to take notice.
“Liverpool are the real deal now.”
OPINION
Liverpool have to be commended for the way that they identified the key issues that were holding them back and then went out and made sure that they got their first choice targets to solve those problem areas. There are strong arguments to be made for both van Dijk and Alisson to be in with a shout of team of the year this season, and the improvement that they have brought about in the Reds’ backline is remarkable. Obviously they are not the only two factors in that transformation, but certainly they have had a huge effect on those around them and have made Liverpool look so much more stable at the back. Goals have never been an issue for Jurgen Klopp’s side, but now that they have added a solid defensive unit to that setup, they genuinely look like world beaters. Even if it doesn’t happen for them this year, surely a title is not far away now.
