‘Van Dijk can be remembered like Alan Hansen’

Virgil van Dijk will be considered a Liverpool legend if he goes on to win significant silverware at Anfield, Jamie Carragher has declared.

The Dutchman has earned widespread plaudits after delivering a commanding performance in his side’s 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on Monday night.

Van Dijk has spearheaded the transformation of Liverpool’s defence since his arrival in January, and Carragher believes he has proven himself to be the best centre-half in English football.

“I knew van Dijk was a good player, but he is better than what I thought,” Carragher said on Monday Night Football.

READ: Klopp on Palace win and Liverpool work ethic: “Run or I will kill you”

READ: Salah makes history with latest nomination

“We’ve always said Liverpool can’t win the Premier League because of their defence, but now they have van Dijk, who I think is the best centre back in the Premier League.

“I can’t think of a defender off the top of my head that is better. He’s the man to step into the position Vincent Kompany has had over the last four seasons as that leader and colossus.”

Carragher believes the former Southampton man should have the loftiest of aspirations, insisting that he can position himself alongside Hansen, who played more than 600 games for the Reds and won eight domestic titles, as a Liverpool great.

“Over the next three or four years, if Liverpool could win a league or a Champions League, I think van Dijk has the potential to actually go down alongside Alan Hansen if we’re talking about Liverpool’s best ever teams – that’s how good he is and how good he can become,” he explained.

“If Liverpool under Klopp win something big, and van Dijk is at the centre of it, he should be disappointed if he’s not alongside Hansen when people talk about the great Liverpool centre-backs.”

The post ‘Van Dijk can be remembered like Alan Hansen’ appeared first on AnfieldHQ.

Source: anfieldhq.com