Last season, Van Dijk admitted that he was not at his best, leading to concerns that his ACL injury had affected his performance. However, as the current captain, he has resumed his dominant role as Liverpool’s centre-back under Klopp. In Wednesday’s match against Sheffield United, he scored his first goal of the season and was named Man of the Match. Klopp emphasized the importance of Van Dijk’s consistency, stating that he is the best defender in the world.
He acknowledged that even great defenders like Rio Ferdinand, Jaap Stam, and Sami Hyypia had their fair share of lesser good spells. As Liverpool prepares to face Crystal Palace, Van Dijk’s leadership and performance will undoubtedly be crucial.
