Virgil van Dijk was outstanding against Manchester United and reminded fans of why he is considered one of the best ever centre-backs.
The Dutchman completely revolutionised the Premier League with his performances for Liverpool and many believe he is the best to ever grace the league in his position.
The likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand are often lauded as the two greats of the Premier League while Vincent Kompany gets shouts from time to time.
However, the standard of modern football has reached such a height that someone like van Dijk is a no longer receiving the credit he deserves.
In many ways, he’s suffering from his own standards just like Mohamed Salah is.
Jason Cundy, a talkSPORT host, now says he cannot believe how wrong people are about van Dijk and would even take Micky van de Ven over him…
Jason Cundy can’t stand “unbelievably bad” claim about Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk. Credit: Imago Images
Speaking on talkSPORT (04/09/24 at 11:05 pm), Cundy said: “Van Dijk has been brilliant for Liverpool, I am not saying he is a bad player, at all.
“But I hear people on Sky Sports, Scouse Sports, talking about van Dijk as the best central defender the country has ever seen. Honestly, that is just the biggest load of tripe. It’s unbelievably bad.
“Nothing to do with nostalgia (in liking John Terry and Rio Ferdinand). I won’t say (after van Dijk retires that he is one of the greatest Premier League centre-backs of all time). I won’t because I am saying it now.
“If you offered me the pair of them (to choose from), this season, then I am taking (Micky) van de Ven over (van Dijk).”
Van Dijk is one of one
Cundy’s comments are hyperbolic in my opinion.
First of all, why is it so unreasonable to consider him the best Premier League defender of all time.
It wasn’t so long ago that he narrowly lost out on the Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi. Of course, there’s no shame in losing out on an individual prize to the greatest football of all time – rather it should be seen as a badge of honour.
