Liverpool ace Virgil van Dijk ‘doesn’t get the credit he deserves’, claims Gary O’Neil

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Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been praised by talkSPORT pundit Gary O’Neil, who named the Dutchman in his Premier League Team of the Year 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.

Although the football authorities are deciding what happens to the English leagues this term given the unprecedented postponement, many have been calling for either the season to be completed when feasible, or for the Reds to be awarded the title since they’re so far ahead.

“I’ve picked Virgil van Dijk for very similar reasons to Alisson,” O’Neil told talkSPORT regarding his chosen XI. “He came into Liverpool and he’s everything you wanted him to be.

“When they signed him everyone thought he might be the difference and he might take Liverpool to new level and he has. He makes it look so easy that he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He’s one of the best all-round defenders I’ve ever seen. Him and Alisson have transformed Liverpool’s fortunes.”

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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, and 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.