Virgil van Dijk names the four toughest Premier League strikers he has faced in his career

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has named the four toughest strikers he has faced during his career in the Premier League.

The Dutch defender has now spent nearly nine years playing in the top division of English football, having joined Southampton in 2015 before his £75 million move to Liverpool in January 2018.

Across that time, Van Dijk has regularly come against the best the Premier League has to offer against sides such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.

As a result, the 32-year-old has plenty of options to choose from when it comes to naming the toughest strikers he has ever faced.

In the number one spot for Van Dijk is none other than Olivier Giroud, who terrorised defences with his aerial ability and strength during his time at Arsenal and Chelsea.

Many consider the Frenchman as one of the most underrated strikers in Premier League history, given his key contributions to Chelsea winning the 2020/21 Champions League, his performances for France and his league titles won in France and Italy.

And Van Dijk is a big fan of Giroud, telling France Football (quotes via GFFN): "I think that Olivier Giroud [is the toughest striker I've played against].

"Every time you think you've got a hold of him, that you've got him well marked, he always manages to score in one way or the other.

"With his head, his foot, his knee, he has often scored against me."

The centre-back also chose Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero, and Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus, as two of his other toughest opponents.

And the other spot in the top four was reserved for Erling Haaland, who has established himself as the top striker in the division since arriving at City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

All three strikers have very different profiles, with Jesus often providing the perfect foil for Aguero's runs in behind and clinical finishing at City.

Van Dijk didn't give too much away on why those three players were particularly challenging, aside from stating: "They make all your matches very difficult."