8 months ago
118 Garth Crooks has suggested that Virgil van Dijk produced a masterclass as Liverpool drew with Manchester City on Sunday, noting that his passing reminded him of Sir Bobby Charlton.
Liverpool made a real statement with their performance at Anfield, even if they did not get the result that they wanted against Pep Guardiola’s men. Manchester City’s players appeared to be stunned by the battle they were in.
On another day, the Reds could have scored several more goals in the second-half. But they will take huge belief from the way they played. And once again, their captain was at his best.
Virgil van Dijk lauded after Liverpool draw with Manchester City
Virgil van Dijk perhaps had one of his best games for Liverpool. Of course, van Dijk was heroic in the recent Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea at Wembley. And he did an amazing job up against Erling Haaland, with the Dutchman and Jarell Quansah restricting the City star to just one attempt on goal.
Writing for BBC Sport, Garth Crooks included van Dijk in his team of the week. And he insisted that he was blown away by his all-round performance against the champions.
“What a performance by Van Dijk in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City. It started with a superb interception by the Liverpool skipper when Phil Foden was about to receive the ball in the game’s opening exchanges. Then a cross from Bernardo Silva was destined for the head of Erling Haaland and looked as though it had beaten Van Dijk, but the Netherlands defender coolly headed the ball out of play,” he said.
“His general passing and distribution of the ball was [Bobby] Charlton-esque, while Van Dijk never gave Haaland a kick throughout the match. However, the sliding tackle on Foden in the second half, as the City forward was about to instigate a counter-attack, was telling. Firstly, because you seldom see Van Dijk on his backside, but the occasion demanded it and the quality of the tackle brought a respectful pat on the back from Foden.
“This was a Van Dijk masterclass.”
Something special happening for the Reds this season
If Liverpool do go on and win the title from here, many are going to talk about what van Dijk did, particularly in the second-half of this season.
It really felt as if nothing was going to stop him leading Liverpool to glory at Wembley last month. And similarly, something seemed to stop the ball going in the Reds’ net for a second time at the weekend.
Liverpool have faced plenty of adversity so far this season. But the squad appears to be absolutely desperate to send Jurgen Klopp out in the best possible way.
Whatever happens over the rest of this season, it is going to be a monumental task for the next manager to lift the players in the same way from next year.
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