Ian Wright agrees Alan Shearer is back to his best after being criticized by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool returned to the top four last season after a difficult season by their standards. Van Dijk has been one of Jurgen Klopp’s star players so far this season.
The Dutchman put in another convincing performance as Liverpool moved up to second in the Premier League with a 3-0 win over Brentford at Anfield on Sunday.
Van Dijk made a number of key contributions, including denying Brian Mbuemo with a final pass inside his own six-yard box.
The 32-year-old, who returned from a serious knee injury in October 2020, has been criticized for failing to match the heights that once saw him as the best centre-back in the world.
But Arsenal legend Wright van Dijk believes he is back on track to finish runners-up to Lionel Messi at the 2019 Ballon d’Or. “I think Van Dijk is back to being the Van Dijk we know and love. He’s a great player,” Wright said on the Kelly and Wright Show.
The honor comes just days after Wright had praise for the former Celtic and Southampton defender from BBC Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer. “He played really well (against Brentford).
He did his best and read the game well.” The Newcastle United icon read: “They always try to score for Liverpool. Their talent is at its peak.”Van Dijk will now turn his attention to helping Holland qualify for the European Championships in Germany next summer.
Holland play Ireland in Amsterdam on Saturday before traveling to Gibraltar on Tuesday. Van Dijk and his Liverpool teammates face Erling Haaland and Manchester City when the Premier League resumes on Saturday, November 25.
