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Virgil Van Dijk Is The ‘Best Defender I've Ever Seen,' Says Liverpool Legend Gary Gillespie

Virgil Van Dijk Is The ‘Best Defender I've Ever Seen,' Says Liverpool Legend Gary Gillespie

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk is "outstanding in every department [and] in one-on-one situations," says ex-Reds defender Gary Gillespie.

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Liverpool legend Gary Gillespie has named Reds star Virgil van Dijk as the best defender he has ever seen.

Speaking to the club's website, the former Liverpool defender said that Van Dijk, 28, being in contention for the Ballon d'Or "speaks volumes" about his impact on the pitch.

"Normally it is the players that catch the eye, the players that score the goals, that dribble and beat people, that create opportunities and I think it speaks volumes that he's even being talked about as winning the Ballon d'Or, the fact he's a centre-back," the 59-year-old Scotsman explained.

"For me, he's the best [defender] I've seen, absolutely. He's right up there, outstanding in every department [and] in one-on-one situations, and that's so key these days, with the way that modern teams play.

"Sometimes you are left in one-on-one situations and you just need to look at his stats last season: I think they were that not one player dribbled past him. I just think that's phenomenal."

The towering Dutch centre-back played an instrumental role in Liverpool's success as Jurgen Klopp's men captured the Champions League trophy and finished second in the Premier League.

PA
PA

And Van Dijk also captained the Netherlands to the final of the inaugural Nations League in June, which ended in a 1-0 defeat to Portugal.

The Netherlands international, who was named PFA Players' Player of the Year, has insisted that now is the time for a defender to win the Ballon d'Or.

"I can understand the fact that normally strikers or No 10s win these kind of awards because it's more attractive to see. But maybe the time has come to change it," he told the club's website.

EA Sports announced on Friday that Real Madrid star Eden Hazard would feature on the standard version of FIFA 20 and Van Dijk would appear on the 'Champions Edition.'

Is Van Dijk the best defender in the world?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Anfield, Football, REds, Premier League, Virgil Van Dijk, Champions League