February 22nd 2024.
According to Jamie Carragher, Virgil Van Dijk is not just an exceptional centre-back in the Premier League, but the absolute best one we've ever seen. After watching the Liverpool captain's performance in their 4-1 victory over Luton, Carragher even went as far as to call Rio Ferdinand a "poor man's Virgil Van Dijk."
Liverpool may have extended their lead in the Premier League title race to four points on Wednesday night, but it was not an easy feat. Chiedozie Ogbene gave Luton the lead at Anfield, making the Reds work hard for their victory. However, second-half goals from Van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, and Harvey Elliott sealed the deal for Jurgen Klopp's men, giving them not only three points but also a boost of confidence ahead of the upcoming Carabao Cup final this Sunday.
It was Van Dijk's powerful header from a corner that sparked the comeback win, much to the delight of Carragher. The former Liverpool player-turned-pundit watched highlights from the game while working on CBS' Champions League coverage, where his fellow pundit Micah Richards asked for some analysis of the Dutch skipper's goal. Carragher's response was nothing short of admiration and awe for Van Dijk, calling him a "colossus" and a "marvel of modern science."
When Richards asked how Van Dijk compared to other legendary centre-backs like Carragher himself, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, and Tony Adams, Carragher had high praise for the Liverpool defender. He even admitted that Terry would be able to play alongside Van Dijk, but when it came to Ferdinand, Carragher simply stated that he was a "poor man's Van Dijk."
It's no secret that Carragher and Ferdinand have had some feuds in the past, with the two trading jabs and insults, including Carragher calling Ferdinand a "clown." Last year, when Carragher didn't criticize his former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard for joining the Saudi Pro League, Ferdinand hit back, calling out Carragher for previously criticizing other players and managers for doing the same.
The debate over where Van Dijk ranks among his peers is a lively one, and it seems that Carragher and Ferdinand have differing opinions on the matter. In fact, their disagreement over whether Van Dijk is superior to Ferdinand's former defensive partner Nemanja Vidic even led to them coming to blows. But one thing is for sure, Carragher believes that Van Dijk is the best centre-back the Premier League has ever seen, and by a mile.
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