Former Liverpool star Gary Gillespie believes Virgil van Dijk can become the greater Premier League defender of all time but needs to win several trophies to achieve that.

The Dutch defender signed from Southampton last January and has been a rock for the Reds. The former Celtic star has helped the Reds to the top of the Premier League this season but dealt with Champions League heartbreak last time around.

Liverpool have not won a trophy since 2012, and Jurgen Klopp has lost all three finals as the manager of the club.

Gillespie won the league thrice during his time with the Reds and believed Van Dijk has to achieve winner’s medals to be counted as one of the best ever (h/t Mirror):

“I’ve been asked a lot in recent weeks: Just where does Van Dijk stand, in relation to the likes of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Jaap Stam even, who are up there as the greatest centre-backs in Premier League history.

“Honestly, ability-wise and technique-wise I would put him top. He’s got absolutely everything. But to become a living legend you have to be successful and win trophies and medals on regular basis… not just a one-off.”

The former Liverpool star added that Terry and Ferdinand had longevity to their game while Van Dijk was already better than the pair technically.

It all boils down to winning trophies and the Reds have a great chance of doing that this season. We sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League table and have some relatively easy fixtures coming up.

Of course, Manchester City will be chasing us right down to the end and we cannot afford to make any mistakes.

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Van Dijk has made our defence one of the best in Europe, and that could be the key to breaking our duck under Klopp and also win our first ever Premier League crown.