Topic: Virgil Van Dijk (Cpt)

[King Kenny 7]

Need a gif of him going off his nut at Trent.

Yeah, good shout. He looked well fierce. 

["Bobber" Thanks :)]

He is brilliant. Watching him makes me realise why we have fallen short in the past, because no matter how good I thought we were in 13/14 or 08/09 we have never had a defender this good in my lifetime. Got a son due in March and a small part of me is wondering what the fallout would be with the missus if I called him Virgil 

Virgil is rather a peculiar name, I wouldn’t be surprised if your missus gave it the veto 😂

[rob1966]

He is brilliant. Watching him makes me realise why we have fallen short in the past, because no matter how good I thought we were in 13/14 or 08/09 we have never had a defender this good in my lifetime. Got a son due in March and a small part of me is wondering what the fallout would be with the missus if I called him Virgil 

If she won't go for a first name, try for a middle name. Our kid managed to get Harley (the bike) as his eldest sons middle name, Shankly for the youngest lad and Paisley as his Daughters first name.

[Bjornar]

Having him in defence is like having Suarez in attack was in 13/14. Just in a class of his own.

[rscanderlech]

Having him in his defence is like having Suarez in attack was in 13/14. Just in a class of his own.

I just watched back highlights from Suarez and Sturridge that season, and it’s exactly the sense I got. Suarez = Van Dijk.

I also became curious about the ‘all-time great’ claims. I decided to go straight to Maldini and watched an old compilation. I’m afraid that he was yet another level up from Van Dijk. Just jaw-droppingly good at everything. He had the technique and pace of a top-class winger or attacking midfielder, the defending skills of Van Dijk (or better) and the handsomeness of an A-list actor.

[him_15]

I just watched back highlights from Suarez and Sturridge that season, and it’s exactly the sense I got. Suarez = Van Dijk.

I also became curious about the ‘all-time great’ claims. I decided to go straight to Maldini and watched an old compilation. I’m afraid that he was yet another level up from Van Dijk. Just jaw-droppingly good at everything. He had the technique and pace of a top-class winger or attacking midfielder, the defending skills of Van Dijk (or better) and the handsomeness of an A-list actor.

Excepts VVD doesn't bite.

[CHOPPER]

Magnificent bastard

[Slick_Beef]

Virgil is rather a peculiar name, I wouldn’t be surprised if your missus gave it the veto 😂

She's saying that I already used up my chance when I called our cat Rafa    So I think I'm out of luck!

[CHOPPER]

He is brilliant. Watching him makes me realise why we have fallen short in the past, because no matter how good I thought we were in 13/14 or 08/09 we have never had a defender this good in my lifetime. Got a son due in March and a small part of me is wondering what the fallout would be with the missus if I called him Virgil 

Ok Mr Tracy

[John C]

Magnificent bastard

Isn't he just Chops, it's like you and me had a son together, your height and my everything else. Skill, charisma, charm, calmness and enviable good looks.

We did ok didn't we.

[CHOPPER]

Isn't he just Chops, it's like you and me had a son together, your height and my everything else. Skill, charisma, charm, calmness and enviable good looks.

We did ok didn't we.

I juts hope to god he hasn't got a cock like a mouses ear lobe.

[Snail]

I juts hope to god he hasn't got a cock like a mouses ear lobe.

[RedG13]

I just watched back highlights from Suarez and Sturridge that season, and it’s exactly the sense I got. Suarez = Van Dijk.

I also became curious about the ‘all-time great’ claims. I decided to go straight to Maldini and watched an old compilation. I’m afraid that he was yet another level up from Van Dijk. Just jaw-droppingly good at everything. He had the technique and pace of a top-class winger or attacking midfielder, the defending skills of Van Dijk (or better) and the handsomeness of an A-list actor.

Van Dijk has been clocked at faster speed then Mbappe in the cl match vs PSG. He also just out muscled and outpaced traore just last month. He has that pace he just rarely needs to use it
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/shock-liverpool-player-who-faster-15180214

[Yorkykopite]

Ok Mr Tracy

F.A.B are the words you're looking for?

[rscanderlech]

Van Dijk has been clocked at faster speed then Mbappe in the cl match vs PSG. He also just out muscled and outpaced traore just last month. He has that pace he just rarely needs to use it
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/shock-liverpool-player-who-faster-15180214

I know. But just go and watch maldini.

[Red_19]

I still cant get my head around how we signed him would never have happened before Klopp. Potentially our best signing of all time

[RedForeverTT]

Has to be in the World XI. Influential and cool as fuck.

[Perham]

I was just thinking about it now but I don't think I've ever seen him go to ground. The best defenders never have to tackle and can rely on their reading of their game so that it isn't even neccesary. Maldini over his career averaged only 0.56 tackles per game and once said "If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake.". Also, Xabi Alonso has spoken about how he doesn't see tackling as a skill and more of a last resort and that its only really valued in English football. VVD is so calm and very rarely slides in to challenges

[classycarra]

F.A.B are the words you're looking for?

Fabulous Allison Becker

Guardiola's the hood(ed cardigan)

[MD1990]

in the 2nd half vs Brighton the ball was played to Gross on the right wing he lost concentration of the where the ball was beause Van Dijk was near him.

He strikes fear into opposition players.

[SpionBob]

I was just thinking about it now but I don't think I've ever seen him go to ground. The best defenders never have to tackle and can rely on their reading of their game so that it isn't even neccesary. Maldini over his career averaged only 0.56 tackles per game and once said "If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake.". Also, Xabi Alonso has spoken about how he doesn't see tackling as a skill and more of a last resort and that its only really valued in English football. VVD is so calm and very rarely slides in to challenges

Only time I saw him go to ground was when with Southampton and he had to tackle Sadio when he got a start on him.

[classycarra]

Only time I saw him go to ground was when with Southampton and he had to tackle Sadio when he got a start on him.

Did he go to ground for the City penalty at Anfield this year? Or was it a pull? Genuinely can't remember.

Went to ground with a lovely looking tackle on Mertens that carried through and ended up accidentally being a bit ugly on Merten's other foot.

Can't think of any more!

[Perham]

Only time I saw him go to ground was when with Southampton and he had to tackle Sadio when he got a start on him.

Did he go to ground for the City penalty at Anfield this year? Or was it a pull? Genuinely can't remember.

Went to ground with a lovely looking tackle on Mertens that carried through and ended up accidentally being a bit ugly on Merten's other foot.

Can't think of any more!

That's crazy really that there's so few examples he's just so calm he doesn't need to do it. Of course the dinosaurs wouldn't like defenders like that because a defender is only good if he almost breaks someone's leg at least once a week

[PhilV]

I just watched back highlights from Suarez and Sturridge that season, and it’s exactly the sense I got. Suarez = Van Dijk.

I also became curious about the ‘all-time great’ claims. I decided to go straight to Maldini and watched an old compilation. I’m afraid that he was yet another level up from Van Dijk. Just jaw-droppingly good at everything. He had the technique and pace of a top-class winger or attacking midfielder, the defending skills of Van Dijk (or better) and the handsomeness of an A-list actor.

That will never be questionable. VVD has a long way to go to get to Paolo Maldini levels, here's hoping he comes close but ya, Maldini is the greatest defender I have ever seen play footie. Different level.

[RedForeverTT]

I just read that he has not been dribbled past, this season. That’s Maldini-calibre statistics.

Wow.

[Jookie]

I still cant get my head around how we signed him would never have happened before Klopp. Potentially our best signing of all time

He's defo not our best signing of all time.

We bought John Barnes, Graeme Souness, Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish to name a few.

VvD is an absolutely brilliant player. Probably our most important player currently. Potentially the best player in the league this season. Maybe even the best centre back in the World. If we win the league he'll be a huge component of that effort.

But he's currently nowhere near our best signing of all time. It would be hyperbolic to even suggest so at this point.

[Red Beret]

LFC is 127 years old, so talking about "best player ever signed" is a bit of a misnomer.  Certainly Virgil is in our Top 20 players of the Prem era, but then so are Torres, Suarez and a hatful of others.

His presence is key to us winning something; and with experience maybe he'll come close to Maldini.  But let's win a trophy first.

[Hazell]

The best ever is certainly a stretch but I'm struggling to think of a player since I've been watching who has come in and made such an impact on a team as Van Dijk has and usually, those that do are midfielders or forwards - Alonso, Torres and Suarez spring to mind but even they didn't have such an effect to the extent that Van Dijk has had. He just seems like the perfect defender.

[Charlie Adams fried egg]

I don't think where he ranks in terms of signings matters.
We needed someone to lead and organise the defence, we bought him for a fortune and he's performed well so far.

While he's been the catalyst for our defensive improvement, we've also seen the signing of a world class keeper plus Trent and Robbo with a years extra experience, the emergence of Gomez at Centre back. On top of this we've seen the evolution towards a less risky style of play and have bought a specialist DM in Fabinho.

I think all of the above was necessary to get us competing for the league. Even with VVD on board Klopp saw the need to evolve both the personnel and the style from the team that got us to the CL final. Losing a 2 goal lead v West Brom away, conceding 2 late goals v Roma and then 4 in the away leg all pointed to the need to tighten things up if we wanted to challenge for the league.

I loved the 14 side and the early Klopp teams, but this is the one you'd trust more.

[Yorkykopite]

The best ever is certainly a stretch but I'm struggling to think of a player since I've been watching who has come in and made such an impact on a team as Van Dijk has and usually, those that do are midfielders or forwards - Alonso, Torres and Suarez spring to mind but even they didn't have such an effect to the extent that Van Dijk has had. He just seems like the perfect defender.

That Mo Salah bloke has done ok.

[Hazell]

That Mo Salah bloke has done ok.

Oh yeah, forgot about him, probably because all he does these days is win and score penalties

Agreed, although, Van Dijk just seems to have an impact on the other players and the team in general unlike any other player I've seen for us. I suppose Firmino does too in some respects.

[Sangria]

I also became curious about the ‘all-time great’ claims. I decided to go straight to Maldini and watched an old compilation. I’m afraid that he was yet another level up from Van Dijk. Just jaw-droppingly good at everything. He had the technique and pace of a top-class winger or attacking midfielder, the defending skills of Van Dijk (or better) and the handsomeness of an A-list actor.

How would you rate Alan Hansen? Especially on that last point.

[So… Howard Philips]

How would you rate Alan Hansen? Especially on that last point.

Difficult to compare Hansen and VVD as players yet but the difference is that Hansen came into a fully functioning team whereas as VVD has had a transformational impact on this team.

[Sangria]

Difficult to compare Hansen and VVD as players yet but the difference is that Hansen came into a fully functioning team whereas as VVD has had a transformational impact on this team.

I know it's sometimes difficult to compare across generations. But even by changing standards between then and now, Hansen was a damn good looker, "(as handsome as) an A-list actor". Better looking than Maldini?

[So… Howard Philips]

I know it's sometimes difficult to compare across generations. But even by changing standards between then and now, Hansen was a damn good looker, "(as handsome as) an A-list actor". Better looking than Maldini?

And including his manly scar acquired walking into a plate glass door!

Hope Paisley sent Alan for an eye test before signing him.

[Red Beret]

He's certainly our best defender of the Prem era, but let's face it, competition in that arena is not tight.

[joezydudek]

He's certainly our best defender of the Prem era, but let's face it, competition in that arena is not tight.

Carragher, Hyypia and Agger were all superb defenders. Van Dijk's better than them though.

[Frank Becton]

No offence to Hendo but this guy should be captain.

[classycarra]

No offence to Hendo but this guy should be captain.

Only difference it makes is a piece of material and who speaks to the ref for extended periods. Not a bad thing to have someone closer to our forwards ready to advocate when we've had a counter cynically cut down or something.

He's getting plenty of games as captain as it is, and as Milner starts to play less will have even more. Noone should be arsed

[carling]

No headed goals conceded this season, and he hasn't been dribbled past once... it really is like entering a Playstation cheat code.

Maldini might be the greatest, but I wouldn't have fancied his chances in the air against Big Virg!