Liverpool legend told John Terry that Van Dijk is a better than him on one condition.
Virgil van Dijk only just made the move from Southampton to Liverpool in January 2018, as the Dutch international sealed a £75m move, to make him the world’s most expensive defender at the time.
It hasn’t taken long for Van Dijk’s quality to be seen by all, and his importance to the Liverpool team cannot be understated.
The Liverpool defender is already being listed as one of the best centre-backs in Premier League’s history, and former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy even believes that Van Dijk is better than Manchester United and Chelsea legends Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.
“I was very fortunate to play with Rio Ferdinand in his pomp with England,” Murphy told talkSPORT.
“He was one of the very best centre-halves I’ve ever seen as well. “But Van Dijk for me is the full package. There are no weaknesses in his game.
“I think his long-range passing was better than Rio’s but we are splitting hairs. “The only thing that Van Dijk doesn’t have is longevity because Rio and Terry played over a decade and won trophies in that time. That’s what Van Dijk has got to do.”
Van Dijk is set to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering knee ligament damage following rash challenge from Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside derby last weekend.
Murphy admitted that the Dutchman is going to be a big miss for Liverpool and rates him as the best centre-back he has seen.
He told BBC Sport: “They are going to be worse off without him. They are going to be more vulnerable defensively without Van Dijk because he’s the best in the world – he’s the best centre-half I’ve ever seen, he’s that good.”