The best defender of all time? Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool legend explored

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Virgil van Dijk’s arrival at Liverpool in January 2018 remains a defining moment of the club’s modern era. Van Dijk’s performances on the South Coast, particularly his ability to read the game and initiate attacks from deep, made him the most sought-after defender in Europe.Virgil van Dijk joins LiverpoolThe transfer was a saga of its own, involving a public apology from Liverpool and a six-month delay, but the club’s persistence finally paid off with a world-record £75 million deal in January 2018.

The impact was immediate, with Van Dijk scoring a header on his debut against Everton in the FA Cup. Is he even better than Maldini? 😱 Photo credit: Getty Images/Chris Brunskill/Fantasista Van Dijk as Liverpool captainFollowing the departure of Jordan Henderson in 2023, Van Dijk was the natural choice to take over the club captaincy.

His leadership was particularly evident during the 2023-24 season, where his winning goal in the Carabao Cup final—a towering header in the dying minutes—secured another trophy for the Anfield cabinet, and when he led the Reds to another Premier League title in the 2024-25 season.Under the management of Arne Slot, Van Dijk continues to defy the typical aging curve for a central defender. His may be the biggest loss of any of the Klopp era stars when he does finally leave.