Virgil van Dijk one of only three Premier League centre-backs yet to be dribbled past this season

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is one of just three Premier League defenders who have not been dribbled past this season.

A few years back Van Dijk was reported to have not been dribbled past for 50 consecutive games.

Many thought Gabriel Jesus ended the run when he spun Van Dijk in the Community Shield at Wembley but the fixture was deemed 'second grade' and so didn't count.

Former Arsenal man Nicolas Pepe was credited with being the first player to get past Van Dijk.

In June 2020, Squawka claimed that only eight players had dribbled past him in three Premier League seasons.

But so far this season, no-one has been able to get past the Netherlands international according to the statistics.

WhoScored have crunched all the important data and taken into account the 42 centre-backs who have started five or more games in the Premier League.

And it's only Van Dijk, Arsenal's William Saliba and Kurt Zouma of West Ham yet to be dribbled past.

Image: Getty

Van Dijk was sent off for a challenge on Newcastle's Alexander Isak in the 28th minute when he was beaten by the Swede but it was not technically a dribble.

He was set for a one-game ban but because he launched an X-rated tirade on referee John Brooks before leaving the pitch, Van Dijk was suspended for two matches in the end after admitting improper conduct.

The former Southampton man was appointed Southampton in the summer following Jordan Henderson's switch to Al Ettifaq in Saudi.

He was introduced a major change at the club, implementing a mandatory pre-match huddle for players before kick-off.

Image: Getty

“It was something that we did when I was a Celtic player," he said, as per The Echo.

“And I always liked it because I thought it set the tone for the game and it also gave the crowd a signal that we were ready to go.”

“It can also help the atmosphere with it being so close to the match starting, so if our fans want to join in by building up the noise and adding to the sense of anticipation I certainly won't complain, even if it makes it difficult for me to make myself heard.”

Topics: Virgil Van Dijk, Premier League, Liverpool, William Saliba

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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