Ex-Manchester United player Phil Jones has hailed Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk as “incredible”, stating that he is a better defender than Rio Ferdinand.
Jones played alongside Ferdinand for three years before the latter left Old Trafford in 2014 but, when asked to pick his favourite between his former teammate and van Dijk, Jones replied:
“I think he [Van Dijk] still would’ve been top [back in Ferdinand’s playing days]. I gotta go with Van Dijk just because what he has given Liverpool for these five to six years has been incredible.”
Most Read on Walk On
“He might have had a dip in form over the previous four to five months but he’s right up there again now. I think about the players we would come up against when we were fighting for titles so you watch Liverpool and think, ‘How are we gonna score if Van Dijk is on the pitch?’. He’s a top player. I can’t deny that so I’ll go with Van Dijk.”
Van Dijk’s legacy has been a hot topic in recent weeks
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher sparked a debate a couple of weeks ago when he declared on social media that van Dijk is the best defender of the Premier League era.
When we asked Jermaine Pennant about it in an exclusive interview, he agreed with Carragher, saying that he would rank van Dijk above both Ferdinand and Chelsea legend John Terry. You can read more here.
Liverpool’s title challenge has been built on their defence
The Reds currently find themselves 4 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand and a lot of that is down to their defensive record.
Arne Slot’s side have let in just 11 goals, with an xG conceded of 13.68; both figures are the best in the top flight, and van Dijk’s performances have played a major role in keeping things tight at the back.
Find out who is in Liverpool’s first-team squad for 2024/2025 season here