Dutch icon Clarence Seedorf has heaped praise on Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk, believing the club can ‘sleep easy’ with him in the heart of their defence for years to come.
Van Dijk has re-established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe this season, having missed most of last year with a knee injury
There had been fears that setback would take something out of the Liverpool star, who before that was considered by many to be the best defender in the world.
He’s put those to bed since, with a series of impressive and calm displays in the heart of Liverpool’s defence earning him praise once again.
He’s very much at the top of his game once again, and that has been integral to Liverpool’s success this season, in which they have already won the Carabao Cup and are competing for the FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League.
Seedorf is a big fan and believes a lack of distractions in Liverpool itself has played it’s part in helping Van Dijk to focus on life on the pitch.
“Last week, I was in Liverpool for Amazon Prime Video, the streaming service for which I provide commentary,” he told NRC.
“With my Italian companions, the search for a good place to eat was easily done; they do not deviate from tradition, so it became an Italian restaurant for a change.
“Il Forno was the home of Carlo Ancelotti during his period as coach at Everton, and many Liverpool players stay here regularly as well. However, I did not hear the name of Virgil van Dijk among the staff. Was that a coincidence?
“Maybe he comes here sometimes, but the captain of Orange is mainly focused on winning prizes with his club Liverpool. The city of Liverpool is very suitable for that. In my opinion, it is a boring city, without many temptations that come your way unwisely.
“The calmness he exudes gives Jürgen Klopp’s team a lot of confidence to put high pressure, as it did against Villarreal the whole match on Wednesday.
“Many people talk about his physical strength and speed, but how Van Dijk defused most dangerous situations has everything to do with his game insight and also with his ability to quickly choose the best solution.
“That is often not without risk, but it is inevitable at the highest level. His fellow players praise him; the fans of Liverpool sleep easy for years thanks to their leader of the rearguard, and the Italian restaurant respects his privacy. With Van Dijk, Dutch football is more than well-represented in Liverpool.”
