Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been a revelation since joining the Anfield club. Signed from Southampton in January 2018 for an incredible £76.2m (via Transfermarkt.co.uk), the Dutchman has gone on to establish himself as one of, if not the Premier League’s top centre-backs.
The 28-year-old posted some pictures modelling his new personalised jacket via his Twitter account, prompting the Liverpool fans to heap further praise on a player who can seemingly do no wrong.
Is Van Dijk on his way to becoming the clubs greatest ever defender?
Yes
No
Better than Vidic, when will people admit that?
— ????? ? (@lfcnicko) February 3, 2020
The best there is and the best there will ever be.
— THE LIBERIAN RED? (@K_Eric1992) February 3, 2020
Beautiful human being and a wonderful baller. This man has affected my life more than he will ever know. A special man.
— Rachel Ellis (@RleEllis) February 3, 2020
ROLLS ROYCE VVD
— sal dad (@Saldondo) February 3, 2020
Legend???
— Mohamed Jamal (@Mohamed97098377) February 3, 2020
Our machine
— Deziderio (@Dezoabc) February 3, 2020
Our no. 4!
— Ian Edwards (@fasteddylfc) February 3, 2020
What a man ?
— alex (@alexlivp) February 3, 2020
What do we think?
The former Celtic defender moved to the Premier League back in 2015 when he joined Southampton. Although he gained Liverpool’s attention following his time on the south coast, the likes of former England star Alan Shearer believed Jurgen Klopp had overpaid for the player.
Perhaps there was an element of risk at the time, but it’s one that has certainly paid off because Van Dijk’s undeniable influence has raised the bar at Anfield – adding an assurance and a resilience to what was, at the time, an ineffective backline – with the Dutchman’s presence in a side that accrued seven straight league clean sheets earlier in the season a sign of his influence at Anfield.