Redknapp: Nobody in the league comes close to Liverpool's "lovely passer"

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Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk possesses the best qualities of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Nemanja Vidic, according to Jamie Redknapp. 

Van Dijk is the ever-present of a Liverpool defence that has conceded the fewest number of goals in Europe’s top five leagues this season, the most significant factor behind the Reds’ unbeaten streak.

How good has Van Dijk been for Liverpool?

  • The Dutchman arrived at Anfield last January for a world record fee for a defender at £75m
  • Liverpool had conceded 20 league goals by this stage last year; in Van Dijk’s first full season, they have conceded just seven.
  • This term the 27-year-old has made the most touches (2,846), played the most minutes (2,845), made the most passes (2,471) and won the most duels (213) out of all his teammates.
  • Van Dijk also boasts the most clearances (173), most aerial duels won (155), most interceptions (38) and most shots blocked (13).
  • In his last outing, the Dutchman won 100% of his aerial duels.

Redknapp has been so impressed with the Dutch defender that he believes Van Dijk embodies all the qualities possessed by the Premier League’s greatest defenders.

“We are only halfway through the season but already nobody comes close to Virgil van Dijk in the race for Player of the Year. He is the one player every team would love to have in their side,” Redknapp told the Daily Mail.

“Think of the best defenders in Premier League history — John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Van Dijk is all three players rolled into one.

“He reads the game like Terry and is a lovely passer, getting the ball out of his feet and spraying 30-yard balls. Van Dijk is blessed with the pace of Rio, too. Rarely do you see him caught out in a one-v-one situation.”

Redknapp added: “While he is not as aggressive as Vidic, he has that same warrior spirit and will to win. He is calm, cool, composed in the air and is a brilliant leader.

“Never mind Player of the Season — if he carries on playing at this level, he has all the attributes to be the Premier League’s greatest ever defender. I am just surprised that it has taken until now for him to be starring in a team competing for Premier League titles.”

How does Van Dijk compare to Ferdinand, Terry and Vidic? 

Liverpool have only conceded seven goals after 18 games this season, equalling the record set by Chelsea in 2008/09 under then-manager Felipe Scolari and his skipper, Terry.

Even though the Netherlands international has played phenomenally well this season, he lags well behind the likes of Terry, Ferdinand and Vidic in terms of major honours.

Chelsea still hold the record for the fewest goals conceded in a season (15), which they recorded in the 2004-05 campaign. Terry was at the heart of that title-winning defence, which set the tone for the rest of the former England international’s career.

Manchester United are more famed for their attacking play, but the defensive partnership forged between Ferdinand and Vidic helped the Red Devils escape more than a few scapes over the years. Together the pair won five Premier League titles and a European Cup.

Ferdinand was included in the Premier League’s Team of the Year on six occasions and has been inducted into the English football Hall of Fame. Vidic made Fifpro’s World XI twice and won the Premier League Player of the Season award as many times.

The post “Virgil van Dijk is Terry, Vidic & Ferdinand rolled into one” – Jamie Redknapp appeared first on Squawka News.



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