Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk names Rio Ferdinand as best ever PL defender
Speaking on the Between the Lines show on BT Sport (h/t Daily Mail), Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk named Manchester United legend as the best ever Premier League defender.
The Dutch star talked to Ferdinand in the interview about getting back to speed this season after his horror injury against Everton. And when he had to state who he thinks is the best ever defender in the PL, he went with the retired English defender.
“You [Ferdinand] could also play in the modern-day era. Back in the day, you were so important for the United team. All the English centre-backs, in general, looked up to you.”
He then went on to claim that Ferdinand was an ‘icon’. After his comments, he then mentioned Vincent Kompany as the second name on his list and fellow compatriot Jaap Stam just below the Belgian.
“I think you were an icon as a defender. The way, your presence at centre-back is very important, being good with and without the ball. You tackled a little bit more than I do.”
Is VVD the best defender in the PL era?
One won’t be wrong if they think that. But the fact that the ex-Southampton star has named two ex-Manchester United defenders in his top three list of the best PL centre-backs in history can annoy a few LFC fans.
There have been players like Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher and John Terry that may have been a safer answer. But then again, it is perhaps not wrong that van Dijk spoke what he felt.
Stam, after all, is a fellow Dutchman while Ferdinand was the one conducting the interview in the first place. Most of our fans would say van Dijk is a better defender than the three names he just mentioned.
His calmness on and off the ball is so evident that it has found its way into Liverpool fans’ famous chant for the Dutch colossus. He is also a good passer of the ball from deep and is a brick wall for any attacker to get past.
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If he continues at this pace for another couple of years, he can truly cement his status as the greatest we have ever seen in PL football. He also has a very able partner in Ibrahima Konate who has shown this season that he can become van Dijk’s successor if and when the Dutchman leaves Anfield.
