peter henry
Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia has described Reds defender Virgil Van Dijk as the ultimate centre-back.
Van Dijk became the World’s most expensive defender when he joined Liverpool from Southampton for £75 million in January 2018.
At the time, many questioned the wisdom of the Reds shelling out such a hefty fee, but van Dijk’s performances have made those claims seem foolish, with the 27-year-old almost single-handedly solving his sides long-term defensive issues, and the Dutch international is now widely regarded as the best centre-back in England.
Former centre-back Hyypia, who is himself revered at Anfield after making 464 appearances for the Reds, has lavished praise on the current Liverpool number four.
“I saw it right away when he came that he would be a very important part of the team,” Hyypia told Press Association Sport.
“Straightaway he was organising the defence, he was the leader at the back, and as time has gone on he is even more important. He gives confidence to the players and makes many other players play better.
“It is very difficult to find a weakness. He is an ultimate centre-back and it would be a pleasure to play alongside him he is so good.
“He is so calm on the ball, he never seems in a hurry and he trusts his skills on the ball. It was the right decision [to sign him] because he is so important for the team, it doesn’t matter how much he cost.”