Former Liverpool captain Sami Hyppia believes Virgil van Dijk will prove to be the best centre-back in the Premier League this season.
The Dutchman faces questions over whether he can rediscover the form that made him one of the best defenders in the world before suffering a knee injury in October 2020. However, there are signs that the current Reds captain is approaching his peak, with his impressive performance in last weekend’s Merseyside derby against Everton another sign of a return to his former best.
“He’s one of the best in the business,” Hyypia told the PA news agency of Nike’s Game On initiative, which partners with the LFC Foundation to bring sport to more than 8,000 local schoolchildren. . “I think he raised the bar.
Everyone expects him to play at that level every time, but that is very difficult. “But he’s doing well. He’s a big part of our team and a great team leader, so we all have to be patient and I think the best will come out of him.” “I think he’s shown in some games this season that he’s still at his level and there’s no doubt he’ll be the best centre-back in the league this season.
“Despite a good start to the season, Liverpool’s defense is under control. Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold now plays a hybrid role in midfield as a playmaker, with the opposition looking to exploit the space behind them.Left-back Andy Robertson is likely to be out for three months after shoulder surgery, with Kostas Tsimikas set to replace him. But Hyypia believes in both Liverpool defenders. “Trent is like a midfielder. He can go short and long and has the vision to see the pass.
Between Premier League matches”I think that role suits him well, and when he’s in midfield and we lose the ball, he doesn’t have much distance to cover.”Speaking about former Finland international Tsimikas, he said: “I think he has a big responsibility now and a chance to show what kind of player he is.”I hope he is brave and takes the chance. “If this doesn’t work, Jurgen (Klopp) will have to think of something else to solve the problem, but I’m confident that Tsimikas will be able to do the job.”Liverpool, who finished the Test series, are in third place, one point behind leaders Manchester City.
With games against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Luton – all bottom six sides – ahead of Brentford’s trip to the Etihad Stadium at the end of November, Hyypia believes the platform is set for another title challenge. “The goal is to win the competition,” he said.”If we fight for the title until May, we can say we had a successful season.
“Top four is always the smallest goal to achieve, but this season everyone wants luck and trophies.”It’s silly to look at what other people are doing. “We’ll focus on what we’re doing and what’s going well and see how the results pan out,” he said.In its first three years, Game On, funded by Nike and supported by the LFC Foundation, reached more than 8,000 children between the ages of 7 and 12, including more than 950 people with disabilities, more than 1,000 racially diverse participants and 46 basic groups. Sports club training in 15 different types of sports.
Matt Parish, CEO of the LFC Foundation, said: “Game On is about harnessing the power of sport, Nike and Liverpool, to engage local young people not just in football but in sport for us.”
