Former Tottenham Hotspur striker-turned-television-pundit Garth Crooks has lauded Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk following his stellar performance against Manchester City. The Dutchman was rock-solid at the back for Jurgen Klopp’s side keeping the likes of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden silent.Liverpool only managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, March 10 and were probably unlucky not to get all three points. They dominated the Cityzens for the majority of the game and Van Dijk was at the heart of it.
Garth Crooks highlighted how impressive the Netherlands captain was not only defensively but also with the ball at his feet. He also compared Van Dijk’s passing range to that of England legend Sir Bobby Charlton. Crooks wrote in his BBC column, as quoted by The Boot Room:
“What a performance by Van Dijk in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City.
It started with a superb interception by the Liverpool skipper when Phil Foden was about to receive the ball in the game’s opening exchanges. Then a cross from Bernardo Silva was destined for the head of Erling Haaland and looked as though it had beaten Van Dijk, but the Netherlands defender coolly headed the ball out of play.”
Crooks added:
“His general passing and distribution of the ball was [Bobby] Charlton-esque, while Van Dijk never gave Haaland a kick throughout the match. However, the sliding tackle on Foden in the second half, as the City forward was about to instigate a counter-attack, was telling. Firstly, because you seldom see Van Dijk on his backside, but the occasion demanded it and the quality of the tackle brought a respectful pat on the back from Foden. This was a Van Dijk masterclass.”
Van Dijk has cemented his status as one of the best defenders to have graced the Premier League.
Since his £75 million switch from Southampton to Liverpool, he has been pivotal behind everything the Reds have achieved.An ACL injury cast doubts whether Van Dijk would remain one of the best defenders in the world but he has come back strong from the setback. The 32-year-old has been exceptional this season for Liverpool as they have already won the EFL Cup and are competing for three more trophies.
