With a UEFA Men’s Player of the Year and Defender of the Year, as well as a potential Ballon D’or, it’s fair to say Virgil van Dijk is at the peak of his powers.
The defender was a colossus for Liverpool last season, becoming the best defender in the world and leading the Reds to Champions League glory.
He’s now set the standard for modern centre-backs, something that his new teammate, Sepp van den Berg, is more than aware of.
The youngster arrived at Anfield in a £1.7m deal from PEC Zwolle this summer as Liverpool looked to secure the centre of their defence for years to come.
There is high expectation around the 17-year-old, who has already found himself training with the first team since the summer.
That’s meant rubbing shoulders with the likes of Van Dijk, and Van Den Berg admits his fellow Dutchman is the one he’s keeping an eye on and trying to learn from.
“They actually teach me everything. Virgil van Dijk, for example, who I can watch. They teach me how to win the Champions League final. That’s football,” he told FOX Sports.
“Everyone gives me tips. I am still young, so if I do something wrong, I will be told in a friendly way. If you really do something wrong, you will, of course, get blasted.
“Everyone helps me. I can learn the most from Van Dijk. So if he gives me tips, I’ll save them. If I make a mistake like not stepping up, etc. Things like that. Things you need to know.
“Everyone received me well. That made me feel good. In the end, I’m not here in vain. I want to show what I can do.”
