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Richarlison Believes There Are Three Centre-Backs Better Than Virgil Van Dijk

Richarlison Believes There Are Three Centre-Backs Better Than Virgil Van Dijk

The Brazilian doesn't rate the Liverpool defender as highly as others do...

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Everton forward Richarlison believes there are three centre-backs in the world better than Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutch defender is widely deemed to be the best centre-back and won the UEFA Men's Best Player in 2019 as well as coming second to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d'Or voting after a superb year.

Van Dijk, a £75 million arrival from Southampton in January 2018, has been a revelation at Anfield, playing a key role in their sixth European Cup triumph and this season's pending Premier League title victory.

Image: PA
Image: PA

But ahead of this Sunday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, Richarlison pointed out that he's already dribbled past Van Dijk and stated that Marquinhos, Thiago Silva and Sergio Ramos are all superior.

Image: PA
Image: PA

"People talk a lot about him, yes he is a great defender but I've already dribbled past him," Richarlison said in an interview with Desimpedidos, as per The Mirror.

"He was chosen as one of the top three in the world as he had an excellent season. But yes, for me there are better defenders."

"Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos," he replied when asked to name said defenders.

Van Dijk's teammate James Milner has a different view on last season's PFA Player of the Year - putting him right up there with Rio Ferdinand and Vincent Kompany in the best defenders he has played with.

Speaking at virtual media conference hosted by Stadium Astro, Milner said: "He's right up there. I've been very fortunate to have played with some amazing centre-halves. You look at Rio [Ferdinand], Jonathan Woodgate, Vinny Kompany, and Virg is right in there with all those guys.

"He reads the game so well, he's quick, he's strong, he's good on the ball, he's a good communicator and he's deadly in the air.

"And his positioning is so good. You can see that after the game when you look at how far players have run. He's run miles less than everyone else, even the other centre-halves, and you think 'how is that possible?' But it's because he reads the game so well.

"He's an incredible player for us, and a big part of what we do. The spine in the team is massive and he is obviously a rock in that defence."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Football, Richarlison, Premier League, Virgil Van Dijk