“Reached Ballon d’Or level” – Liverpool star hailed after Manchester City clash, ‘really back at top level’

Virgil van Dijk is back at his absolute best for Liverpool and close to the levels he was showing before his knee injury.

That’s according to journalist Süleyman Öztürk, who has praised the Liverpool captain following his display in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

Van Dijk has been key for Liverpool again this season, leading from the back as they’ve challenged for the Premier League title with Arsenal and Manchester City.

He was at his best at Anfield on Sunday, marshalling his side from defence as his side battled Pep Guardiola’s side in a game deemed a potential title decider.

Key to the game was how he dealt with Erling Haaland and the Dutchman certainly won that battle, keeping the striker quiet, with one particular one on one moment undoubtedly a key highlight of the game and a demonstration of the Liverpool star at his best.

Praise for his performance after the game was not hard to come by and Öztürk has joined in that chorus, insisting he believes the Dutch defender may be back to his best, when he was being compared to the best who’d ever played the game.

“He is really back at top level, really back,” he said.

“He is back to where he was when he was next to Messi and Ronaldo.

“He has simply reached Ballon d’Or level again. You have to be really good as an attacker if you want to outwit him.”