OPINION
When Virgil van Dijk was named as PFA Player of the Year, there were few people who would have disputed the decision.
The Dutchman has been a gargantuan presence at the back for Liverpool this season, and has been one of the key factors in transforming this side into legitimate title contenders.
He has been consistent and dependable, and he has done it all with an impressive measure of poise and class.
It is no wonder that he is already a hero at Anfield, and looks as if he could even be a good captain for the club one day.
Many fans will be left bemused, therefore, by Jonathan Walters’ comments comparing him to Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany.
According to the former Republic of Ireland striker, the Belgian is a better player than van Dijk.
Speaking to 888sport, he said: “You have got to go with Vincent Kompany over van Dijk for winning the Premier League as captain. To be up there with the best you have to be winning things.
“Virgil van Dijk has had a great 18 months and as good as he’s been you have to be doing it for at least four, five years before you can be considered right up there. Look at Ramos, Busquets, Pique.”
Walters raises a fairly valid point, but we’re talking about a player of the season award, the kind that has to be won on the merits of a single campaign by definition.
Sure, if both were to retire tomorrow, Kompany would have the greater legacy, and his rapturous thunderbolt against Leicester City on Monday night shows that he’s still got it, but all things considered, right now, if somebody offered you him or van Dijk, you would take the latter all day, every day.
You can’t judge a player’s current capabilities based on his past. If you could then Pele would still be leading the line for Brazil.
Kompany has been a fantastic presence in the English game over the past decade or so, but right now, van Dijk is the better placer.
