Let’s start with a couple of table discussions while you finish up the last of the turkey sausages and other holiday leftovers from this weekend.
Is Virgil van Dijk in the best shape of his career? And what is his place in the pantheon of great Premier League defenders?
At 33 years old, many would assume he is as good, if not better, than his supposed peak in Liverpool’s title win in 2019-20. Now that the Reds are pulling away from contenders and pretenders in the battle for supremacy this year, the argument is gaining significant weight.
There is an elephant that follows Van Dijk around the room in every debate and that is his contract, which expires at the end of this season. We’ll talk about that in due time, but for now, Liverpool fans are relishing that their captain is back to his best.
Friday marked Van Dijk’s seven years at Liverpool, following his £75million move from Southampton. A brief search of the archives showed that the usual suspects among armchair experts were calling it a scam.
It’s easy in hindsight, but looking back, £75 million for a man of his stature represents a tremendous steal. Although he is on the wrong side of 30, name one defender in the world who brings what Van Dijk does to this Liverpool team.
Virgil van Dijk has been in imperious form for Liverpool, who have a huge lead in the Premier League title race.
The Dutchman was virtually unbeatable during the Reds’ march to the title in 2020. His form saw him narrowly miss out on the Ballon d’Or and claim the award for Europe’s best player.
Friday marked the seventh anniversary of his £75million move from Southampton.
His career with the Reds began on a high, scoring the last-gasp winning goal in the Merseyside derby over Everton with a towering header, becoming the first Liverpool player to surpass their city rivals in his debut since Bill White in 1901.
Aside from a season-ruining injury in 2020-21 (he played just five league games that campaign and defending champions Liverpool finished 17 points behind Manchester City, which is saying a lot), he has barely looked back since that first week in Merseyside.
Asked if his captain is better than ever, coach Arne Slot said on Friday: “It’s hard to judge because I wasn’t here when Virgil came close to winning the Ballon d’Or in 2019. He’s a tremendous player and has been for so many years for Liverpool.
“Unfortunately he was out with an injury for almost a whole season and that didn’t help this football club at all. So that probably tells you the impact he has had here. I can only tell you my experiences with him.
“And it’s not just what you see, because you watch every game and he’s outstanding during them, but he also has a big impact during the training sessions.” He is the vocal leader of the team.
‘Every time we start a drill, he stands above his teammates and leads by example. So, for me, he’s been exceptional so far and I just hope he can continue to show that during games and training while he’s with us.”
Slot is to Liverpool what Sir Alastair Cook or Sir Geoffrey Boycott were to England in cricket: the king of the straight bat. He always answers any question about contracts without flinching under pressure, without giving any comment to the media.
But behind that, when the cameras are off and the hungry journalists are not present, the Dutch coach is desperate for his captain to sign that new contract. Before Liverpool, Slot did not believe in the concept of a defined leader in a group, but now that has changed.
Arne Slot has been effusive in his praise of his compatriot since his arrival at Anfield in the summer
Last month he told Dutch television: ‘Before working with Virgil, I always said that I no longer believe in the concept of a leader. But Virgil is someone who constantly makes sure the kids are there and is the leader in training. Set a good example in training and in the gym.’
He’s always chattering away at team meetings and regularly walks around the breakfast tables (the entire team eats together in the mornings, a new rule implemented by Slot) to check that everyone is happy and focused on the task at hand.
Van Dijk is said to be the big brother of the camp and a more hands-on leader than Jordan Henderson or James Milner. He has strong relationships with everyone in the building, whether it’s coaches, media team or medical staff.
He sees captaincy as an honour, but also an important role, and wants to challenge people in a positive way every day. In terms of friendship, he is closest to Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate, which helps given they are his defensive teammates, but he has a strong bond with everyone.
His leadership extends beyond Liverpool. Van Dijk wrote a personal letter to each member of the Netherlands’ Euro Cup bid team, each with a handwritten message of inspiration, encouragement and motivation.
After England eliminated the Dutch in the quarter-finals (Ollie Watkins with that late goal in Dortmund), Van Dijk said his dreams were “shattered” and it took him a while to get over it. But although he will turn 35 during the 2026 World Cup, there is no reason why the defender cannot be present.
That’s because of his commitment to recovery, his buzzword in interviews. He’s always willing to spend time with the media and, like Slot, has a sly poker face. Van Dijk rarely breaks his tunnel-vision “one match at a time” mentality and focuses on sports science.
Van Dijk is a firm believer in ice baths and his interest in this side of the game perhaps arose from his time working with Amsterdam-based physiotherapist Sjoerd Sluijs during his time injured four years ago.
Despite his advanced age, Van Dijk remains in optimal physical condition thanks to his commitment to recovery
There has been debate about whether he or Mohamed Salah are more indispensable to Liverpool.
The 33-year-old has his own private team to help with nutrition, body recovery and gym work. He is a sauna regular and has practiced aquacycling, essentially a stationary bicycle underwater. Van Dijk is often seen with an interestingly colored recovery shake or shake after matches.
Another intriguing debate would be who is more irreplaceable between him or Salah: both want to stay at the club and just need to find the right deal, which is a complex and nuanced process.
“The only Liverpool player who (if injured) is a problem is Van Dijk,” former left-back John Arne Riise said on Thursday. ‘If he gets injured, they could have difficulties. “It’s very important, not only as a player, but also to help the players around him, the confidence he gives them.”
All of this is giving Van Dijk confidence that he can continue at the top level for several more years. His predecessor as captain, Henderson, said last week: “I think Virgil could play until he’s 39 or 40. If they give him a contract for two, three, four years, it would be a good deal.”
So let’s get back to those food coma-fueled debates. A quick poll of fans on social media by Mail Sport yesterday found that 60 per cent of fans consider NO better than their original Champions League and Premier League winning team peak. A small but fair margin.
The statistics, however, say that he is enjoying his best season at the club. He’s making more tackles (1.2) and more interceptions (1.9) per 90 minutes than ever before, while his passing accuracy is also at an all-time high (91.6 percent).
“It’s been a big change for me: we play a certain way under Jurgen (Klopp),” he said recently. ‘I have more responsibility when it comes to initiating attacks and I’m enjoying it. It’s a surprise for people to see me do it, but it was always there. It’s another string to my bow.’
But the words he said this weekend would have resonated more with Liverpool fans. “I love the club, the club loves me,” he said. “In my opinion, I can play at least another three or four years at the highest level.”