Rickie Lambert says Liverpool once had a centre-back who was actually better than Virgil van Dijk

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Liverpool are the most storied and successful team in English football history.

Indeed, with 20 league titles to their name and six European Cups, there isn’t a single team in this country who can match up to the Anfield outfit.

Of course, you don’t win so many trophies without having some truly special players over the years.

Speaking to the BBC, Rickie Lambert has now been discussing who are Liverpool’s greatest ever players in various positions.

Inevitably, Ian Rush was picked as the Reds’ greatest striker, as Rush was a true legend of the game.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah got the nod as the Reds’ best winger ever, as Salah is a world-class operator in his own right.

However, at centre-back, Lambert made a rather interesting call.

Rickie Lambert picks Alan Hansen as Liverpool’s greatest centre-back ever

Lambert was asked to name who he believes is Liverpool’s greatest ever centre-back.

Of course, Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the world according to some, but according to Lambert, the Dutchman isn’t in fact the best defender Liverpool have ever had.

Indeed, Lambert believes that crown belongs to Alan Hansen.

Hansen is perhaps best known to younger fans as a former pundit on Match of the Day, but, once upon a time, the Scot was a truly elite defender winning numerous titles both domestically and in Europe.

Alan Hansen was similar to Virgil van Dijk

A number of Liverpool fans may not have been around to see Hansen play in his pomp, but, make no mistake about it, he was a top footballer.

Indeed, Hansen was a fantastic player at his best, and he was actually similar to Van Dijk according to Phil Thompson.

“Virgil has been quite something,” Thompson said on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast.

“And the only one I could compare him with would be Alan Hansen. Because the two of them were quite similar. They read the game so well.

“They look so comfortable at times. And you know, very often, you don’t see them have to make sliding tackles or anything, which people are like, oh, yeah, yeah. When you’re a good player, you’re always in a position before that.

“And Big Al was like that. And Virgil cruises through games, even the biggest of games. He’s like that.

“Big Al wasn’t very vocal. Neither is Virgil. I mean, vocal. You do it in a way of how they play. You do it in a way of pointing fingers, getting the best out of them.”

Liverpool have had some amazing defenders over the years, but Thompson and Van Dijk are certainly two of the best of the bunch.