Any conversation surrounding Virgil van Dijk usually descends into a discussion of where the Liverpool captain sits in the pantheon of great Premier League defenders.
With a second league crown under his belt now, has the Dutchman climbed above the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Tony Adams, John Terry and Vincent Kompany in the all-time list?
Michael Owen goes one step further. The former Liverpool striker labelled Van Dijk ‘the best centre-half of all time’ back in 2022. In the three years since then, however, he has arguably grown into an even-more fearsome foe.
Van Dijk has unlocked an elite passing range from central defence. The appointment of Arne Slot and the arrival of a more considered, possession-heavy structure helping to add another string to an already-crowded bow.
Van Dijk, of course, is not the only member of this current Liverpool roster to be mentioned alongside the Premier League’s elite. Trent Alexander-Arnold and particularly Mo Salah would feature in many hypothetical, Premier League-era ‘dream teams’.
And one-time Anfield stalwart Danny Murphy feels that no discussion of Liverpool’s second top-flight triumph is complete without mention of the imperious Alisson Becker.
Danny Murphy labels Alisson Becker a Liverpool and Premier League great
Murphy, an FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup winner with the team from the red half of Merseyside, is the first to admit that he is no expert in the minutiae of shot-stopping.
But he feels that, with the possible exception of Manchester United icon Peter Schmeichel, no goalkeeper since the competition’s advent in 1992 can rival Alisson when it comes to out-winning centre-forwards one-v-one.
Goalkeeping is not my expertise but, as strikers going in on goalkeepers, it feels like he is the best I’ve seen in one on ones,” Murphy says on Optus Sport’s Kelly and Wrighty Show. “Schmeichel used to be good at it [but] Alisson seems to stay [big].”
Ian Wright and Glenn Murray, in contrast, are much better placed to discuss how it feels baring down on goal with a man the size of Alisson standing in your way.
And even on the occasions where the experienced Brazil international has been unavailable due to injury, Arne Slot has had the luxury of being able to turn to Caoimhin Kelleher.
Jurgen Klopp once called Kelleher the world’s best number two goalkeeper. Considering that Liverpool only lost only once in their ten league matches with him between the sticks this term – keeping four clean sheets – the Irishman is only building on that reputation.
“Liverpool have got a goalkeeper who has come in and done the job. [Kelleher stepping in for Alisson] was seamless, to the point where people weren’t even talking about Alisson when he was out,” says Wright, the Arsenal legend. “Seamless
“[In one-v-one situations, Alisson] stays massive. Sometimes you see goals and you think; ‘I can see space [to shoot into]’. When you’re running through [against Alisson], you can’t see space. His angles are so good.
The closer you’re getting, the smaller the goal behind him is, and the bigger he is looking
He seems to relish those moments more than the strikers,” adds Murray, scorer of 26 Premier League goals in 96 appearances for Brighton and Hove Albion.
“As a striker, it’s your moment, your chance to score a goal. But he just seems so calm. The way he comes out and just swats it away…
“For me, he is the best in the Premier League.
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