Former Liverpool boss Gerrard Houllier has named Virgil van Dijk as Jurgen Klopp’s best signing of 2018.
Liverpool have heavily backed their manager this year, giving him well in excess of £250 million to bolster his squad, with Virgil van Dijk arriving at Anfield last January, and being joined by Naby Keita, Fabinho, Alisson and Xherdan Shaqiri in the summer.
Those additions to the Reds’ squad have seen them installed as one of the favourites to win the Premier League this season, and former boss Gerrard Houllier has been discussing the clubs signing under Jurgen Klopp, picking van Dijk as the best:
“To me, the main signing was Virgil van Dijk. People thought it was expensive [when he joined from Southampton for £75m in January] but I didn’t, he was the only one on the market to be at that level,” Houllier told BBC Radio 5Live.
“The second one is Allison this summer because they needed a goalkeeper for real strength at the back. Plus when you have [Naby] Keita, who will gradually fit in the English league, and when you have the three they have up front it’s a very, very strong side.
“I think Jurgen has brought a lot in terms of spirit and mental energy to the team, but also in terms of tactical shrewdness. He brought the style – his style of play – which is a very attacking style and very demanding physically… but his team are entertaining, always good to watch and very strong, very solid.”