Graeme Souness has hailed Virgil van Dijk as the world’s best centre-back as he claimed the Liverpool back five can play together for the next decade.
The Anfield legend and high-profile pundit made the huge claim as he explained the “really encouraging sign” of the ages and calibre of goalkeeper Alisson and defenders Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson.
Souness explained how Dutch giant Van Dijk has transformed the back line since his arrival in January of last year.
“You can say one player doesn’t make a difference, but I think when you are that good, you are an exception,” Souness told Sky Sports. “He would be the outstanding centre-half around right now.
“When Liverpool went for him in the beginning, Southampton said no and six months later he did join them, I thought that in those six months, they had alerted Real Madrid and Barcelona and I expected Liverpool to get gazumped.
“He is a very special player. When you look at the age of the back four and the goalkeeper, that’s a really, really encouraging sign for Liverpool. That’s a back five that could play for a decade together.”
OPINION
Given that Van Dijk is 27, it would be quite extraordinary if he was the master and commander of the defence in 10 years’ time, when he will have blown out 37 candles on his birthday cake and is unlikely to be as quick across the turf as he is now. Van Dijk is a magnificent player who can achieve wondrous things with Liverpool, but it would be quite something to reign supreme for another decade. As for the other four, they would appear to have more chance. Alisson is 26, relatively young for such a brilliant goalkeeper and one whose skills are sure to stand the test of time, and late starter Robertson is 24, while brilliant Englishmen Gomez (21) and Alexander-Arnold (20) are just starting out in what are sure to be outstanding careers if they can avoid major injury and keep their feet on the ground. As Souness attests, these are hugely encouraging times for Liverpool, despite the recent fans’ meltdowns after draws away to Manchester United and Everton.