Crouch said that Van Dijk recently left him thinking “oh my God”
There is currently a major love-in going on across the world of football aimed directly at Liverpool centre-back Virgil Van Dijk.
Named the Premier League signing of 2018 by JOE, Van Dijk has consistently received plaudits for his performances since joining Liverpool, and particularly during this season, which has seen them concede just seven league goals in 19 games.
He has been repeatedly referred to as the world’s best defender, most recently by Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles, and his displays make that assessment difficult to disagree with.
The latest player to lavish praise on the Dutch international captain is former Liverpool and Southampton striker Peter Crouch, who discussed Van Dijk in his weekly column.
Remarking on the first time he played against the Dutchman during the defender’s time at St. Mary’s, Crouch revealed that he is in awe of Van Dijk.
“I played against Van Dijk when he was at Southampton,” he said. “I knew he was good but I didn’t have him in the category of Tony Adams, Sol Campbell or Martin Keown, the central defenders who you knew would leave you battered and bruised.”
“If anything, he reminded me of Ledley King. Ledley never left himself in a position where he needed to make slide tackles, he just had a way of getting in front of you to take the ball. Ledley, really, never got the recognition of just how good he was.
“I watched Van Dijk last week when Liverpool beat Wolves and he did something that made me think ‘Oh, my God!'” he added. “It was when Adama Traore looked like he was going to open up on the touchline, having dragged Van Dijk out of position.”
“Usually, a fast striker would leave you for dead but Van Dijk’s reaction was extraordinary. For a man so big and heavy to move so effortlessly alongside was remarkable and it shows why they have such a good defensive record.”
