LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Virgil van Dijk returns to his former club Southampton on Friday (April 5) with a growing reputation as one of the most influential figures in the Premier League title race between his Liverpool side and Manchester City.
For all their attacking threat, Jurgen Klopp's men owe a huge debt to their Dutch defender, signed from Southampton 15 months ago for an eye-watering £75 million (S$134 million) fee, the size of which raised eyebrows.
But now the investment looks one of the wisest in recent Premier League history, with one Van Dijk moment in particular, during the weekend win over Tottenham, being held up as an example of his peerless form.
With the game finely poised at 1-1 at Anfield on Sunday, Tottenham had a two-on-one break, featuring Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min against the Liverpool centre-half.
Van Dijk took the decision to leave Sissoko with the ball, forcing him into a shot that the nervous Tottenham man missed hopelessly, paving the way for Liverpool to snatch a dramatic last-gasp winner.
"Of course," said teammate Andy Robertson when asked if that one moment showcased Van Dijk's skills to their utmost.
"He made the right decision there. Look, it's getting to the point of the season where both teams wanted to win it. If it's maybe in the first month of the season, it probably sees out as a 1-1 draw.
"But they're fighting for Champions League spots and they needed three points and we needed three points. That's why we brought on extra attackers and we went for it and tried to get the three points and luckily we did.
"But these situations are going to happen. We're maybe going to get a wee bit exposed at the back but there's nobody better to deal with it. Luckily we got away with one there and they've not got away with it."
Robertson was not the only admirer following the Dutchman's role in that victory and, with every passing week, the case for Van Dijk to be named as the Premier League's player of the year is gaining momentum.
Liverpool's protracted bid to sign the defender from Southampton, which had been thwarted the previous summer, was met with disbelief by many as he became the most expensive defender in the history of the game.
But his displays last season, in helping Liverpool reach the Champions League final, answered many of the doubters and Van Dijk's form has, if anything, been even more impressive this season.
Manchester City's Raheem Sterling is another strong candidate for the end-of-season individual awards but Van Dijk has made a strong case and the only slight concern for Klopp after the Tottenham victory was the sight of his key defender using an ice pack on a muscle injury after the game.
However, concerns he could be a fitness doubt for the return to his old club were quickly dispelled when Liverpool showed footage of the 27-year-old taking part in a full training session on Wednesday.
"He's so important to us not only as a player but as a person. I couldn't say a bad word about him even if I wanted," said Klopp.
"Yes he has improved us and he has improved since he came here as well. He is a different player to when he was at Southampton. Champions League quarter-finals, semi-finals and final help you as a player."
Norwich City secured promotion to the English Premier League after a three-year absence with a 2-1 win at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. The victory left Championship leaders Norwich nine
Norwich City promoted to Premier League after three-year
"Man United, Inter, Juventus and Tottenham are clubs with strong support in the region, and we believe the fans will be happy to see them in action." AIA Group Chief Executive and President, Ng Keng Hooi, added: "AIA is proud to be the Presenting Partner of the 2019 ICC Singapore, especially during our Centennial year.
Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks, Qatar's Ali downs Saudis AFP January 17, 2019 AFP No Comments Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) (AFP) - Tsukasa Shiotani's sizzling winner kept Japan on top of their Asian Cup group on Thursday, while Oman scrambled into the knockouts in a pulsating finish to the tournament's first stage.
Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks, Qatar's Ali downs Saudis
LEGENDS. Neymar visits Pele in the hospital hours before the 78-year-old's discharge. Photo from Neymar's Instagram . PARIS, France - Neymar has paid a visit to Brazilian football legend Pele
Neymar visits recovering Pele in hospital - Punch Newspapers
(Adds quotes) MILAN, May 26 (Reuters) - Former European Cup winners AC Milan endured a bittersweet 3-2 win at SPAL in the last round of the Serie A, finishing the campaign outside the top four after their nearest rivals both booked their Champions League berths on Sunday.
Soccer: AC Milan miss out on top-four finish despite SPAL win
FEST Camden hosted some of the best World Cup screenings in north London last summer, and now the organisers are hosting football fans for the Champions League final in its brand new venue Wonderfest.
UEFA Champions League Final - Live Screening at Tottenham
Antonio Conte is set to take over from Luciano Spalletti as Inter Milan boss and the change looks set to be a costly one for the club. Spalletti has spent two years in charge of the Nerazzurri but
Luciano Spalletti News Report - Newsmeter
Hugo Lloris saved Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 90th-minute penalty as a below-par Tottenham Hotspur salvaged what could be a crucial 1-1 draw in a scrappy north London derby against Arsenal on Saturday. Tottenham had trailed to Aaron Ramsey's 16th-minute goal and were offering little as a third
Kane, Lloris rescue point for Spurs against Arsenal
Spurs boss Pochettino slapped with Champions League ban for 'delaying kick-off against Ajax'.. but will not miss Liverpool final.
Son Heung-Min's Stats Show How Much Spurs Will Miss Him In
TURIN (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo will spearhead Juventus' old guard as they look to finish the job on Tuesday (April 16) against Ajax's impressive young guns in a quarter-final clash between two sides desperate to end years of Champions League heartbreak.
Juve's old guard bidding to finish off Ajax kids - Daily Nation
Shiotani's rocket ensured Japan finished with a perfect nine points at the top of Group F as they beat Uzbekistan 2-1, despite changing 10 players from their previous game. Eldor Shomurodov opened the scoring with a fine individual goal but the Uzbek lead lasted only three minutes before Newcastle United forward Yoshinori Muto's header made it 1-1.
Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks, Qatar's Ali downs Saudis
Feb 9 (Reuters) - Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with a confident 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday. The win moves Juergen Klopps's side three points above second-placed Manchester City who face Chelsea on Sunday and would return to the top on goal difference with a victory.
Liverpool back on top after comfortable win over Bournemouth
La Liga's all-time top goalscorer is Argentine Lionel Messi, who also holds the record for most goals scored in a season with 50 goals in 2011-12. Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Athletic Bilbao's Telmo Zarra, who was the competition's all-time top scorer until 2014, are the only players ever to win the top scorer's award in six seasons.
Messi finishes season leading La Liga in goals, assists, and
Real Madrid have signed Serbia striker Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt for 60 million euros, television channel Sky Germany said. Jovic, 21, scored 10 goals for the German side in their run to
Real Madrid agree to sign Serbian Jovic - Reuters
PARIS: Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman said on Tuesday the club will pay the fee for striker Emiliano Sala if they are contractually required to do so. Sala had signed for the Premier League side and was flying to his new team from his old club Nantes in France when his plane went missing over the Channel on January 21.
Cardiff to pay Sala fee if necessary - report - FootyNews.co.uk
0 comments:
Post a Comment