If there were any doubts regarding Virgil van Dijk and his big-money move to Liverpool when the deal was officially announced, it’s safe to say that he has turned all his doubters into believers.
Vincent Kompany hailed Van Dijk just a year into his time at Anfield by naming the Dutchman as the greatest centre-back in Premier League history.
The Liverpool skipper looks set to lift his second title during his unforgettable spell in Merseyside and he has made the £75 million (BBC Sport) fee — a world-record fee at the time look like an absolute bargain.
The day the Reds confirmed they had signed Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, a fan asked Jamie Carragher whether he was a better defender than him.
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Jamie Carragher said Virgil van Dijk was better than him the day he signed for Liverpool
Carragher is one of the best defenders in Liverpool’s history and his two cents on Van Dijk would have been demanded by the Anfield faithful at the time.
After all, it was unheard of for a club to pay such an eye-watering fee towards a centre-back and Jamie Carragher had watched Van Dijk do what he does best for Southampton.
However, Carragher was fully on board with Liverpool paying a king’s ransom to sign Van Dijk, who John Terry lauded as a “top player” only recently as he continues to raise the bar in a red shirt.
Jamie Carragher stated on the day that Van Dijk signed for Liverpool that he was superior to him, replying to a fan on X: “Better in the air than me, quicker than me, more composed and doesn’t score own goals!”
Comparing Virgil van Dijk and Carragher’s stats in the Premier League
It’s safe to say that as class of a player as Jamie Carragher was, Van Dijk has outdone him in a Liverpool shirt.
The Dutchman’s reputation in Merseyside could further skyrocket as Liverpool believe Van Dijk will extend his contract.
In terms of the numbers, Jamie Carragher made 508 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League while Van Dijk has made 228.
Carragher even has more clean sheets in the Premier League (195) than the 32-year-old (97) but the latter won the title in 2020.
