Van Dijk stands on the verge of
greatness as he bids to become the world's best, writes Paul Gorst in this
week's Blood Red. Dries Mertens was wheeling away in celebration of Napoli's
lead, but the Liverpool faithful were decidedly indifferent. Football
supporters from around the world can buy Premier
League Tickets online to enjoy its brilliant actions.
Their concerns were elsewhere,
despite the Belgium international striker giving the visitors the advantage in
an important Champions League clash.
The real story, as far
as Liverpool supporters were concerned, was in Anfield’s center
circle, where Virgil van Dijk was lying in a heap. The Dutchman had gone down
under a challenge from Napoli's goal scorer and was subsequently nowhere to be
found as Mertens slammed home.
Virgil Van Dijk £75m Deal
A collective breath was held as Van
Dijk, eventually, climbed to his feet to carry on. Anfield's reaction to the
sequence was telling. Rather than bemoan the concession, the patrons of the Kop
were more worried about the health of their £75million Centre-back.
Any injury to the imperious, reigning
PFA Player of the Year would be catastrophic to Liverpool's Premier League title
hopes, and Reds fans knew it.
That is the impact Van Dijk has had
as he approaches his second-year Anfield anniversary. On Monday, the
Netherlands captain will aim to become the first Liverpool player in history to
be officially recognized as the world's best player.
The Ballon d'Or award has been
paraded around Anfield before, of course. Michael Owen proudly held the admired
golden ball aloft for his exploits in 2001.
However, his goal-laden season for
club and country was recognized with the award that renowned the European
footballer of the Year. The modern carnation of the Balloon d'Or is the reward
for the planet's very best.
Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish has come the closest,
finishing as a runner-up to the great Michel Platini in 1984. This is the level
at which Liverpool's No.4 is currently operating.
A player at the absolute peak of his
powers; Liverpool fans are fortunate to witness such routine defensive
masterclasses, even if the clean sheets have been curiously absent this term.
For a Liverpool player - never less a
defender - to be in contention alongside the legendary duo, is huge news at
Anfield. The Melwood dressing room will be a boisterous place on Tuesday
morning if Van Dijk brings it back from France.
After the public collapse of the deal
in June 2017, Klopp held his nerve, resisting the urge - amid intense calls to
buy an inferior alternative. The German wouldn't be denied as Van Dijk gave
Reds supporters the best belated Christmas present by confirming himself as a
Liverpool player on December 27.
His arrival seen an improvement
almost overnight. Klopp's team had conceded 24 goals in 21 Premier League games
before Van Dijk arrived from Southampton. They would ship just nine more with
him in the team.
A player of rare dignity; the Dutch
captain combines all the finest defensive qualities of Liverpool legends from
Alan Hansen to Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.
When he eventually departs, he may
have a strong case to be considered the best of the lot. Time is on his side to
prove it. A victory in Paris on Monday night would cement his greatness and
create a piece of Liverpool history in the process.
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