Liverpool boast some of the best players in world football, with many possessing the potential to be considered all-time greats.
For a significant stretch of the Premier League era, Liverpool wasn’t consistently among England’s elite. That perception, however, has dramatically shifted in recent times.
While the squad always had talent, it often lacked overall balance, with the team too heavily reliant on a select few stars. Now, the current Liverpool squad is brimming with quality. Manager Arne Slot has an astonishing array of options at his disposal, making this one of Liverpool’s most formidable and complete teams in years.
Among the most crucial and consistently excellent performers is Virgil van Dijk. The Dutch defender has been transformative since his arrival in 2017, revolutionizing the entire team’s structure and performance.
His impact has been so profound that many already hail him as the greatest center-back in Premier League history. However, former Liverpool player Steve Nicol believes that assessment might be premature.
Steve Nicol: Van Dijk is on par with Premier League legends
Steve Nicol argues that Virgil van Dijk deserves to be in the conversation for the Premier League’s greatest center-back, alongside John Terry and Rio Ferdinand.
The Premier League has showcased an abundance of phenomenal center-backs, making the debate for the absolute best a perpetual challenge. However, certain names consistently surface, notably John Terry and Rio Ferdinand.
Van Dijk has emerged as a contender in this elite group, with many fans believing he surpasses both legends. Yet, Nicol suggests that singling out one player as definitively superior is an impossible task.
“I think the answer to the question is that he hasn’t surpassed them [Terry and Ferdinand] because they’ve all been as important in captaining and looking after everyone around them in great teams,” Nicol stated on ESPN FC.
He elaborated, “All great teams have someone at centre-back who holds it together and steers the ship. I don’t think you can separate them at all. They all deserve to be in the conversation; to pick one as the best is an impossibility.”
Whether van Dijk ultimately edges out his predecessors remains to be seen. With two years left on his contract, he still has ample opportunity to strengthen his claim by the end of his Liverpool career.
Van Dijk’s timeless quality
Liverpool has a rich history of exceptional center-backs, including club legends like Alan Hansen, Phil Thompson, and Sami Hyypia, spanning various eras. Despite these storied careers, many believe van Dijk possesses qualities that would make him a standout performer in any period of the club’s history.
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha shared this sentiment, pointing out that van Dijk exhibits traits reminiscent of both Terry and Ferdinand.
“The ones who we are naming, he has traits that suit both of them,” Onuoha commented on ESPN FC. “I think with Terry, the last-ditch nature of him, some of the defending, the heroism, he has that. For Rio, the ability on the ball, he’s got that as well.”
Onuoha added, “He’s also massive and got a huge presence. So for van Dijk, I think he can play for Liverpool in this era but he also could have played in previous eras as well.”
