Liverpool have built a solid final line that competes with the best in the Premier League. Alisson Becker’s consistent performances at the back end and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s improved defence are significant, but the presence of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk is great.
As they maintain a high possession rate and build their attacks in the opposition’s area, the response of individual centre-backs is tested when they get robbed and counter-attacked.
The Franc and Dutch defenders, who are fast, physical and absolutely confident in defending against the opposition, do not give their opponents any freedom in the final part of the game.
The 25-year-old former RB Leipzig defender is a great admirer of the veteran defenders he has paired up with at centre-back.
They have been playing as partners for some time, but revealed that they are working hard every day to further improve.
“What a defender!”
“I think if we talk about him and what he has done, it’s unbelievable.”
“I have a very good relationship with Virgil on the pitch and outside of the pitch. And when I came here as a 21-year-old he gave me a lot of advice and helped me with my adaptation here.”
“When I was in Leipzig I watched some games of Liverpool and I didn’t realise how good he was. Then when I came here, sometimes I’d think, ‘No! How is this possible?’ And now I think because he’s too good, some strikers see Virgil and are just thinking: ‘I have no chance against him.’”
“On the pitch I need him and I think it’s the same way for him, hopefully! I know how good he can be for me and we just work together and try to be the best partnership in the world.”
“For me personally, before I had my injury [in late November] I think we were on the top level and I think a lot of people felt that as well, but we know that we just have to keep going in this way.”
Liverpoolfc.com