Virgil van Dijk‘s winner against Sunderland saw him surpass Sami Hyypia as Liverpool’s highest-scoring defender in the Premier League era.
When looking for qualities in a defender, you first and foremost want them to be able to keep the ball out of their own goal.
It is always handy, though, for them to be able to chip in with a few at the other end too.
This season, we have seen how important this route to goal has been for league leaders Arsenal, whose defenders have scored six league goals between them and 11 in 2024/25.
Liverpool have their own centre-back weapon who is looking increasingly dangerous now the Reds are threatening more often at set-pieces.
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Picture date: Wednesday February 11, 2026.
Van Dijk’s header against Sunderland was his 23rd in league games for Liverpool, moving him one clear of Hyypia as Liverpool’s top-scoring defender in the Premier League matches.
Hyypia still has the edge in all competitions, scoring 35 times in 464 apps, but Van Dijk boasts a better games per goal record, with a goal every 11.09 matches, whereas Hyypia’s tally stood at a goal every 13.26 games.
Both are still some way short of being the club’s highest-ever scorer from defence.
Chris Lawler, who played as a right-back under Bill Shankly, takes that crown, having netted on 61 occasions in 549 appearances – that is an average of a goal every nine games!
Liverpool’s Top 10 Goalscoring Defenders
Player Goals Games Games per Goal
1. Chris Lawler 61 549 9
2. Phil Neal 59 650 11
3. Emlyn Hughes 49 665 13.6
4. Tommy Smith 48 638 13.3
5. Steve Nicol 46 468 10.2
6. Sami Hyypia 35 464 13.3
7. Donald McKinlay 34 434 12.8
8. Phil Taylor 32 343 10.7
9. Virgil van Dijk 32 355 11.1
10. John Arne Riise 31 348 11.2
* Data from LFC History and correct as of February 12, 2026
Fellow full-back Phil Neal also boasts an impressive record of 59 goals in 650 appearances, though 38 of these were penalties.
Van Dijk’s header on Wednesday was also notable for moving him up to No. 100 on Liverpool’s all-time top-scorers list, scoring 32 goals in all competitions since arriving at Anfield.
Virgil van Dijk’s man-of-the-match display against Sunderland
Of course, Van Dijk isn’t just a legend for the important goals he has scored; he is also arguably the club’s greatest-ever defender.
Against Sunderland, he showed he still has the attributes that made him great.
FotMob named him their player of the match after the captain made more defensive contributions than anyone else (13) and made more headed clearances than any other player (10).
In addition, he won the most duels (9), losing just one, and he played 13 passes into the final third – again, the most of any outfield player.
The way in which he refused to dive into when backed into by Brian Brobbey was exemplary, the second consecutive game in which he has rendered the opposition forward ineffective after also keeping Erling Haaland quiet at Anfield.
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