Alan Shearer raves about Liverpool player with ‘athleticism, power and an ability to read the game’

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Alan Shearer has named Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk in his Premier League Team of the Season so far.

The Reds currently sit top of the Premier League table, 25 points clear of second-placed Manchester City, and Van Dijk has been crucial in getting Jurgen Klopp’s side up there.

The 28-year-old has been a revelation since joining the Reds from Southampton in January 2018 for a reported £75million fee, an outlay of money which initially drew criticism from some quarters.

In a short space of time, Van Dijk proved a key component in transforming a shaky Liverpool defence into a solid, tight-knit unit, the team reaching the Champions League final that summer.

Last season,  the Netherlands international helped the Anfield side win the Champions League trophy as well as push a superb Manchester City outfit all the way in the Premier League.

“A complete central defender,” Shearer wrote on the Premier League website. “Van Dijk combines athleticism, power and an ability to read the game in leading the Liverpool backline.

“The Dutchman also provides a real threat inside the opposition box, scoring four goals this season.”

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There can be little doubt that Van Dijk is currently one of the best, if not the best, defender in world football – Shearer is just the latest high-profile football figure to send plaudits his way.

Aside from his recent exploits for Liverpool, it’s worth remembering how shaky the Reds defence was prior to his arrival.

Fully worth his £180,000 a week salary (Spotrac), the Dutchman has helped Liverpool to the Champions League and on the brink of a first English top-flight title in 30 years.