New Delhi: Liverpool’s skipper Virgil van Dijk has been one of Liverpool’s best players this season and his exploits have even made Reds manager Arne Slot praise him. The 33-year-old is in the last six months of his contract with Liverpool and made his 300th appearance for the side during their 4-1 win over Ipswich Town at Anfield.
During his eight years with the Reds, he has won the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup and the League Cup twice. While his stay at the club is yet uncertain, this season he has been an architect to the side reaching the top of the Premier League, the final 16 of the Champions League and the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.
In an interaction with Football Focus, Slot noted that everyone in England would agree that Van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world right now. The Dutch manager admitted that his country faces criticism in Holland and his performance and ability to play through lines had actually left even Slot surprised. Slot felt that from the very first he thought that the defender was playing on a whole new “level”.
Arne Slot on Van Dijk Critics in Holland:
🎙️- “Everybody here in England would tell you that Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the world.” pic.twitter.com/5sTtAD3EzO
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) January 29, 2025
The 46-year-old manager, came to the side last summer after Jurgen Klopp left Anfield after nine years. Liverpool are currently placed six points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, having played a game less. They are also at the top of the Champions League table and were the first of the two teams who have qualified for the final 16 of the competition and are set to play PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday in their last league-phase game.
Slot noted that Liverpool’s season was better than he had expected and admitted that he never thought they would be leading the table with such a margin after 22 games. Slot insisted that no one gave the side a chance to do this well and he didn’t expect Manchester City’s campaign to take such a turn.
Slot signed a three-year contract with Liverpool and has been making plans on how to improve the side. Slot has set a high standard for Liverpool and felt the side should be title contenders and compete for the Champions League and was hopeful he could maintain this standard with the club.
Liverpool didn’t make a lot of transfers in the summer or even now in the winter transfer period. Slot responded to this by saying that they were content with the side that they have in their hand for now, although they were looking to reinforce their squad.
In his career as an active footballer, Slot was known for being a goal-scoring midfielder, winning promotions from second-tier football of Dutch football to Eredivisie with FC Zwolle and also played the UEFA Cup for NAC Breda.
Before moving to Liverpool, he had some successful stints with Dutch clubs Cambur, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord. It was the natural next step for Slot and came as little surprise to anyone who had played with him that he wanted to become a manager. In fact, during his time with Dutch sides, he would always show video clips of Liverpool, especially the 2019-20 title-winning season.
Slot admits that as a player he wasn’t the fastest or didn’t have the best tenacity but had a great speed for making passes in the right direction. It was his footballing brain that stood out from everyone.
While he has enjoyed coaching Liverpool, Slot admits being away from his family, who are in the Netherlands, is difficult, though he was just an hour’s flight away. Slot has enjoyed the first half which had many international breaks. Which allowed him to have his family around.
Slot confessed that from November to March there are no international breaks and that is a difficult time frame for him. However, it has helped him to have more time for preparation and become a better coach than he was in the Netherlands.
With Liverpool at the top of both Premier League and UEFA Champions League table, Arne Slot praised Virgin van Dijk for leading the Reds in one of their best seasons so far. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
