Liverpool player named in European Team of the Week, transfer continues to pay off

Liverpool registered a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturay and following the Reds’ start to the campaign, one of their players, Virgil van Dijk, has made it to La Gazzetta dello Sport’s European Team of the Week.

Jurgen Klopp wanted to bring the Netherlands international to Anfield in the summer of 2017, but Southampton decided against sanctioning his sale, only to allow him to join the Reds in January for £75m.

Since moving to Anfield, the former Celtic man has been a crucial part of the English club’s defence that has kept 12 clean sheets in this calendar year. This also includes three in the first five matches from this campaign, as Liverpool have conceded only two goals so far in the league.

Van Dijk has been one of the key reasons for his side’s impressive defensive record, which is currently the best in the league, and the Italian newspaper have given him a rating of seven for his display against Spurs.

That sounds low, but Gazzetta are always tough.

Having paid a world-record fee for the centre-back, it looks like the 27-year-old is justifying his price tag with impressive displays in the heart of his side’s back four.