'Van Dijk so big and so good' - Klaassen hails Liverpool star as one of world's best

Dom Farrell

'Van Dijk so big and so good' - Klaassen hails Liverpool star as one of world's best image

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk is among the best defenders in world, according to fellow Netherlands international Davy Klaassen.

Van Dijk is set to captain his country in their crunch Nations League clash against Germany on Monday, knowing a draw will be enough for the resurgent Oranje to top Group A1.

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The 27-year-old has also worn the armband for Jurgen Klopp's side this season, having had a transformative effect on the Reds' backline since joining for £75 million ($100m) from Southampton in January.

"It is hard to mention one best defender in the world but he is one of the best," ex-Everton and current Werder Bremen midfielder Klaassen told Omnisport .

"He is in the top 10 for sure. He's so big and so good. I think he plays so well every week for Liverpool.

"With the national team he is the captain now, so he is really important for Holland."

Van Dijk and Liverpool fell at the final hurdle in the Champions League last season, going down 3-1 to Real Madrid in the final, and Klaassen thinks they could make another tilt for European club football's greatest prize.

"Last year they were close and nothing is impossible," he added, with the Premier League team's vital Group C showdown against Paris Saint-Germain to come next week in the French capital.

Van Dijk has played every minute of the Premier League and Champions League for Liverpool this term, and will make his 24th appearance for the national team when they take on Germany.

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.