Liverpool’s winning run came to an end with the Reds drawing 3-3 with Newcastle United in a dramatic game at St. James’ Park.
A Mohamed Salah masterclass wasn’t enough for Arne Slot’s side to claim all three points, with a late Fabian Schar goal seeing Newcastle steal a draw against Liverpool having impressed all night on Tyneside.
With Salah’s contract situation at Liverpool once again in the headlines this week, the 32-year-old winger once again showed why he would be worth every penny if FSG buckle to pressure and award the forward a new deal.Yet Ian Wright was blown away by another Liverpool player on the night against Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk praised for ‘everything’ going through him for LiverpoolSpeaking on the Overlap, Wright was full of praise for Virgil van Dijk’s role in Liverpool’s system, with the pundit noting that ‘everything’ went through the Liverpool captain when building out from the back.
With Van Dijk keen to extend his stay at Liverpool beyond this season, the Dutch international has been as influential as ever at the back for the Reds under Slot, who has raised the centre-back’s game to such a level where the Dutch international should be regarded as the best defender in the world.
And for Wright, the pundit hailed Van Dijk for how the Liverpool captain controlled the game for the Reds and allowed everything to go through him, even during a game as chaotic as this one at St. James’ Park.
Wright said whilst watching Van Dijk against Liverpool: “I don’t understand why people don’t close down Virgil van Dijk. He’s the one who’s got the most time.
Why would you leave him, he’s the one who gets everything going.”Van Dijk once again showed why Liverpool need to tie him down
Liverpool have not had as stressful a game this season as they experienced against Newcastle tonight, yet the scoreline could have been much worse had it not been for Van Dijk at the back.
The 33-year-old defender has been the best centre-back in the world this season with Van Dijk showing that he still has many years left in him before he should be considering a move away from Europe’s biggest leagues.
Indeed, Van Dijk signing a new deal now seems to be a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’, and Liverpool know they need to move fast to wrap their captain’s future up on Merseyside based on his form this season.
