Paul Robinson heaped a lot of praise on Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk ahead of the Reds’ clash with Arsenal.
The Sky Sports pundit was discussing the Reds’ upcoming game with Arsenal and when asked to make a combined XI of both sides, he took a moment to rave about Van Dijk.
Robinson claimed that the 28-year-old looked like the complete package at the moment and claimed that the Dutchman would go on to lead the Reds for a long time.
“He’s looking like the complete package at the moment, his aerial ability, his strength, his reading of the game, his ability to manage others around him as well,” said Robinson on Sky Sports News (11:31am, Wednesday, August 21st).
“He’s a leader, he leads by example as well, the quality that he showed last year.
“As I said the signing of him and Alisson in the last 18th months and the impact they have had, is just phenomenal.
“And he is going to go on and lead Liverpool for a long time.”
OPINION
Van Dijk may not be Liverpool’s captain, that honour goes to midfielder Jordan Henderson, but Robinson is right to suggest the 28-year-old is a leader on the pitch for Jurgen Klopp’s side. The Reds’ defence has transformed since Van Dijk was signed from Southampton in 2018 and part of the reason they have improved is because of how well the centre-back barks orders at his team to ensure they’re in the right positions. Last season Van Dijk helped the Reds rack up 20 clean sheets in 38 league outings, as per the Premier League, and more than played his part by winning 74% of his tackles. While the Reds haven’t managed to record a clean sheet in their first two league games this season, they beat Norwich City 3-1 and Southampton 2-1, with Van Dijk at the back, you still expect the Reds not to ship goals for fun in the coming weeks. Jurgen Klopp will certainly hope this is the case anyway, as you feel the Reds’ defensive record played a big part on the club only missing out on the league title by a point last season.
