Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish has drooled over defensive duo Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, suggesting that the two have been “fantastic signings”.
Both players were brought to Anfield for fees that represented records in their positions at that time, and both have been instrumental in helping to transform the Reds into title challengers.
Speaking to the club’s official website, former player and manager Dalglish was quick to sing their praises.
He said: “You never know when your success is going to come, but certainly the January transfer window when they brought in Virgil and the summer when they brought in Alisson Becker – two fantastic signings.
“Two people with real presence and stature, as well as stopping them at one end and Virgil’s knocked in a couple at the other end!
“And when you’re confronted with Alisson Becker one on one, he’s an imposing feature to try and knock it past.
“So they’re two areas we’ve strengthened over the last 12 to 14 months, and that’s fantastic for us.”
OPINION
Praise doesn’t get much higher on Merseyside than a ringing endorsement from Dalglish, but Sir Kenny would have had to have been living under a rock to not single out these two for praise. The impact they have had is as plain as the nose on your face, and it has genuinely helped to transform this Liverpool team from a sleek attacking outfit with worrying frailties into a gritty, dependable title challenger. Neither Alisson nor van Dijk have been perfect this season, but they have been about as close as you could ever hope to be, and the difference they make isn’t just a simple matter of improving the playing standard of the team. Both of them bring an assurance and a calming presence to the side that the Reds have missed for far too long. Compare Alisson to some of the erratic performances from Loris Karius or Simon Mignolet in recent times, and the gulf, not in shot stopping or positioning, but in command and defensive surety, is almost unbelievable. Two of the best signings in the club’s history.
