Former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor has picked three defenders who he claims are better than Virgil van Dijk amid a weird emerging debate about John Terry
08:47, 19 Feb 2026
Virgil van Dijk emerges to warm up for Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk emerges to warm up for Liverpool.(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Ex-Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor says there are three Premier League center-backs better than Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk in the debate over the best in that position.
This week, John Terry made the case for himself in a bizarre video, while various pundits have had their say. Agbonlahor would also go with Vincent Kompany and Rio Ferdinand.
"Terry had everything, left foot, right foot," Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT. "He is better on the ball that Van Dijk. I played against him at Chelsea and he was so casual playing the ball out to his full-backs.
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"JT was playing against the top strikers — Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie.
"There is an argument to say, 'Is Van Dijk better than Kompany?'. I played against Vincent Kompany and he was top, aggressive, and delivered in important moments. Let's not go with recent bias here.
"Van Dijk is a fantastic defender but I am probably choosing John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Vincent Kompany above him.
"I can't choose between John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. JT was so clever, he knew how to play against quick strikers. He would give you a yard.
John Terry lifts Premier League trophy
John Terry enjoyed a glittering career at Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
"I am putting them ahead of Virgil van Dijk for longevity. They have done it for years... titles, goals."
Jermaine Pennant kicked off the debate by putting Van Dijk as his number one, ahead of the likes of Terry and Ferdinand.
"I think he is out of all the players you've named, look at the age of Van Dijk now... he's 34," the ex-Reds winger explained.
"At 34, Rio was at Queens Park Rangers while Van Dijk is at Liverpool playing competitive football, playing Champions League and still scoring.
"He's scored more goals than all the defenders you've named so how can you disrespect Virgil like that. If you said which one am I having... I'm picking Van Dijk."
In response to that, Terry recorded himself on TikTok putting his own case forward, and disagreeing with Pennant.
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"Now this is a debate that everyone's entitled to their own opinion," he said. "But 'Pens', when you're on the radio and you're giving your opinion, you have to get the stats right.
"There's only one person who has got the most goals as a defender in Premier League history and that's me. I also have the most clean sheets in history and if you're comparing myself and Virgil, then I have more trophies than him as well.
"Also, you brought up a really good point. At the age of 34, in the season of 2014/15, I played every single minute of every game for Chelsea, winning the league in that season with Mourinho as our manager.
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"So guys, this is over to you, I love the debate, I love being amongst it, I'm really proud of what I've done in the Premier League, but it's clearly over to you guys to settle the debate... I'm just happy to be amongst it."
Liverpool.com says: While there is an argument that Van Dijk is facing lesser strikers than Terry was, it is also true that most center-backs 10 or 20 years ago were playing with a more solid structure in front of them. For most of his Liverpool career, Van Dijk has (successfully) been doing the work of at least two players, dealing with being left exposed.