Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the Premier League and in the world, there’s no doubt about that.
Now, Freddie Ljungberg has suggested to Jamie Carragher on Viaplay that the Reds powerhouse may be an increasingly unique type of player.
The Arsenal icon asked the Liverpool legend whether Van Dijk has traits that are “missing in today’s football” in terms of centre-backs.
When Liverpool signed Van Dijk back in the 2017-18 January window, some baulked at the £75million fee the Reds handed Southampton.
However, the Dutchman has been so good over the years that his transfer fee barely warrants a mention any more.
Van Dijk turned a previously rickety Liverpool defence into a fortress-like unit, and he helped the Reds win the likes of the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup in the ensuing years.
Although the £220,000-a-week star (Spotrac) has endured a few difficult spells due to things like injury and loss of form, he’s now very much back to his best and silencing his doubters.
‘You can bully them’
Ljungberg wonders whether Van Dijk is now very much a throwback due to his size and physicality, in contrast to the modern centre-backs that Ljungberg feels are smaller and easier to bully.
“I feel sometimes, since we played, I felt centre-backs then were a bit bigger, like Sol Campbell,” said the Swede.
“You couldn’t really bully the centre-backs. Lately, if you’re Haaland and you have the size, you can bully them a little bit. They’re not as big any more.
“But then you have a Van Dijk, he has a presence, he’s big and strong. Is that something that sets him apart a little bit and we’re missing in today’s football?”
‘The most difficult position to play’
Carragher replied by commenting on how the modern centre-back’s physique has had to develop with a changing, more taxing role.
“When you think of a Tony Adams, Sol Campbell, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, some of the best in the Premier League, they didn’t have to receive the ball off the goalkeeper in the six-yard box,” he said.
“They didn’t have to defend on the halfway line with teams pressing.
“I think now, playing centre-back is the most difficult position to play on a pitch. You’re supposed to have the technical ability of a midfield player, and the pace to go with.”
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk is a complete centre-back – TBR View
Carragher makes a great point. As the game develops, the players have to develop as well, and the new-school cream of the crop will look distinctly different to the best old-school players.
Van Dijk is one of those rare talents that combines all the key traits, which is why he’s one of the very best in the world.
However, when you look across the board, centre-backs will be smaller and more pacey and technical because that’s what the role requires now.