Former Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has heaped praise on Reds centre back Virgil van Dijk, claiming that he has improved the entire team.
The Dutchman’s impact has been monumental since arriving from Southampton in January of last year, and Agger clearly views him as absolutely vital to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“He has changed not only the defence but the whole team,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “He’s definitely what Liverpool have been missing the last couple of seasons.
“So he’s changed a lot just with his presence and he looks like a strong leader and he’s a good footballer as well, so that’s a good combination. I think he has made the whole team better but we have Alisson in goal as well and he has changed a lot too.”
OPINION
Agger is absolutely spot on, here. Van Dijk really has transformed the entire Liverpool team, turning them into serious Premier League title contenders and one of the finest sides in Europe. He’s not done that by himself of course, and Alisson’s impact has been huge as well, but the Dutchman has been positively a revelation for Klopp’s team. The effect he has on his teammates is colossal, you merely have to look at the improvement in the form of players like Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip to see that. Joe Gomez, too, has had his rise accelerated by playing alongside the 27-year-old. Agger knows a thing or two about defending, so it’s worth listening to what he says. Van Dijk is undoubtedly the best centre back Liverpool have had in many years – imagine him playing alongside Jamie Carragher in his prime! The Dutch star is so important to the Reds and the Anfield faithful will be hoping they get to watch him for many years to come.
