He was poor and a bit coward yesterday. However it's not a shame for any defender to be destroyed by Messi.
Virgil van Dijk | Performances
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I think he was "marking the ball". Probably thought it was out. When the ball hits the bar he had no time of reaction. This why the CB needs to track the man. Ball can't do nothing by itself.
Look at VvD and Messi's positions. I'm not sure how people can claim that VvD couldn't have done anything about the second goal. Messi is behind him when Suarez shoots at the goal.
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Deserve Ballon D’Or. Amazing piece of business from Klopp. Without him, it would have been another trophy less season for Klopp.
That price has been an absolute bargain. Can't believe Liverpool went from having the most clueless defence to possibly the best in the world in such a short amount of time.
Best transfer business in PL since I don't know when.
People here still try to discredit him. He's up there with the greats.
Incredible player, arguably the best defender in the world at the moment and devastated that he is with Liverpool.
Will most likely be talked about as one of all time great defenders as well in current trajectory.
Will most likely be talked about as one of all time great defenders as well in current trajectory.
Best defender in the world. Has transformed their defence.
Cant wait for him to lift the nation league trophy
This I can agree with. Finally some real football!
His impact on Liverpool has been nothing short of amazing tbh.
Him and Allison have done well for Liverpool
Will end up winning the ballon d'or
Messi still had a better year individually, but van Dijk deserves to be a runner up. Had Kane in his pocket tonight
in what way? Trophies? Longevity? Ability?
Ability. Trophies will come.
Makes defending look easy and the players around him better.
Anyone who thought 75m was a ridiculous fee should admit they know f*ck all about football.
Should win the Balon Dor and fully deserved in my opinion.
Physically a tank, dominant in the air, fast as feck, rarely makes a mistake, confident on the ball, a leader... you name it.
He is one of the most talented defenders I've ever seen.
However, he doesn't yet have the trophy haul to be considered a great.
He is one of the most talented defenders I've ever seen.
However, he doesn't yet have the trophy haul to be considered a great.
Remember when we were linked with him that 1st summer under Van Gaal, and many of us wanted Ron Vlaar over him instead? Ron fecking Vlaar.
Those were the days.
Those were the days.
To be fair Ron Vlaar was brilliant at the 2014 world cup.
Thats what world class CB brings you.
Take notice, Ed.
Take notice, Ed.
A £75 million defender playing like a £75 million pounder defender - some of the hyperbole around the guy is astounding.
His poor performance in the 1st Leg of the Barca tie nearly cost them tonight’s glory.
He’s the worlds most expensive Centre Back, I expect the performances he’s giving.
Outstanding player but he wasn’t some cheap find, he’s living up to his tracer fee - something I wish our players would do.
His poor performance in the 1st Leg of the Barca tie nearly cost them tonight’s glory.
He’s the worlds most expensive Centre Back, I expect the performances he’s giving.
Outstanding player but he wasn’t some cheap find, he’s living up to his tracer fee - something I wish our players would do.
A Manchester United manager may say he wants a piece of turd to play up front for him & many Manchester United fans would find a way to justify it.
I'd say he's playing more like a £100-120m player, he's the best CB in the world and has instantly turned Liverpool's defence into a juggernaut. Judging by how much people would spend for the likes of Koulibaly and De Ligt, Van Dijk is easily up there in terms of cost.
Absolutely detest him but man he's an absolute monster. Such a complete player and easily the best defender in football at the moment and it pains me to say it.
Even at Groningen he used to be special defender. He had all those qualities like speed, strenght and height but lost focus during a match sometimes. He did really improve on that and became a world class defender.
When he played for Groningen no Dutch top team picked him up and he went to Celtic. Ajax had to choose between him or Mike van de Hoorn. One just one the CL and the other finished 10th in the Championship... i guess these made the wrong choice.
Also was there a United link when he played for Celtic? Van Gaal never invited him to our national team if i remember correct. Van Gaal played with Vlaar, de Vrij and Martins Indi as his defenders. People wanted van Gaal to call up van Dijk but van Gaal hardly ever did.
I know someone will discredit him and while I do believe he’s possibly the best CB in the world I often see little recognition for Alisson, Fabinho and Robertson for the excellent defensive improvement. People make it sound like it’s simply just Van Dijk.
He’s done what the best players do. Cost a lot of money & improved himself - he is the worlds most expensive centre back & also the worlds best. Another great piece of business for a Liverpool.
He’s also backed by the worlds second most expensive goalkeeper who has also lived up to his fee.
No one is doubting his ability, I’ve been immensely impressed by the guy but Rio cost us £30mil, his worth to us was millions more - he went a stupendous amount of games without collecting cards & won countless trophies, VvD isn’t something we’ve not seen before imo.
Agreed but I guess the difference is Van Dijk is the marquee signing. Speaking in terms of a back 4 the rest were there before Van Dijk was around and were mostly poor as a unit with Karius in goal, when VVD came in with Allison, things changed.
Van Dijk is a great player for sure - but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if just like hummels, when Klopp is gone people will wonder why he isn't performing to the same standards.
Let's be clear Virgil Van Dijk is the best and most complete defender in the world, in my opinion. Not Ramos, Pique, Koulibaly, De Ligt or anyone else for that matter. Van Dijk is better than them all, by some distance. He is one of those players who makes you want to sack your recruiting department. What were they doing and how did they miss him? Especially given how good Klopp had been with his recruits up to that point (Mane, Salah, Robertson). We should have been in there like a rat up a drainpipe as soon as we knew he was a Liverpool target. Goodness knows that we had enough time to scupper their deal.
Van Dijk has been absolutely transformational at Liverpool. I just wonder what he could have done at United. He is a leader and he would have sorted out the United dressing room. Now he has won the Champions League with Liverpool, I seriously wonder whether the likes of Real Madrid of Barcelona would be able to lure him away. Even they must begin to look like a step down now, compared to Liverpool.
Van Dijk has been absolutely transformational at Liverpool. I just wonder what he could have done at United. He is a leader and he would have sorted out the United dressing room. Now he has won the Champions League with Liverpool, I seriously wonder whether the likes of Real Madrid of Barcelona would be able to lure him away. Even they must begin to look like a step down now, compared to Liverpool.
No he doesn't. Didn't have a better individual season than Messi, having said that the voting system in the Balon D'Or can be swayed by heavy campaigning so wouldn't be suprised if Liverpool launch one for Virgil. Fantastic player, should be in top 3 but not winning it.
Let’s be honest 75m was a bargain. Best defender in the world, by some distance.
Did he even have to break a sweat all night? The best kind of defender. Always 2 steps ahead. Such an intelligent, classy player.
Messi ruined his chances when he and his team bottled a 3-0 lead against Liverpool. How do you quantify having a better season between a defender and a striker?? Messi plays in a two horse league where Lukaku could become top scorer if he played for Madrid. Champions league was his chance at Ballon D’or but he ruined it. Virgil Van Dijk has had an amazing season and a champions league medal.
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Van Dijk deserve it over Messi.
It’s infuriating how effortless everything is for him. I had no idea he was this good when he was at Southampton.