PREMIER LEAGUE BOO-TIFUL VAN
Trio has Klopp in top gear Southampton 1 Liverpool 2 Virgil is a star... just don’t mention him to Saints fans
RUUD GULLIT believes Jurgen Klopp has provided an attacking blueprint that the rest of Europe will try to copy.
Holland legend Gullit reckons Klopp’s Liverpool team is all geared up towards unleashing Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle boss said: “Jurgen Klopp has three absolutely class acts in his front line with Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and
Firmino.
“Everyone of them is capable of making the difference in every match
Liverpool plays.
“The great idea behind Klopp’s tactics is that the rest of the team is playing just to aid these three giants. They are a superb trio.
“I think other teams will be looking to get three very fast forwards then copying Liverpool.” VIRGIL VAN DIJK is so cool, calm and collected, you sometimes barely notice the Dutchman at work.
He suddenly appears, intervenes, and kickstarts another Liverpool counter with such sublime, subtle ease, it is almost unreal.
Perhaps, that’s why it took the Southampton fans, who once worshipped his every step, the best part of seven minutes before they began booing their former favourite. the hero in the midweek UEFA Super Cup victory over Chelsea, almost cost Liverpool victory here.
Van Dijk’s back pass in the 83rd minute was a simple one. But the Spanish keeper took way too long, and booted his clearance against Danny Ings, before watching the ball roll back into his net.
Masterful
Reds centre-half Van Dijk (left) has so much time in the heat of battle, he is able to instruct team-mates while completing a masterful job. No problem.
He was at it from the first to last minute at St Mary’s. Telling Adrian where and when to pass it, ordering the referee’s assistants to raise their flag for offside and, generally, organising proceedings to suit his needs.
No wonder Jurgen Klopp barely moved as, with arms folded, he watched his side continue to make light of their fixture pile-up.
In days gone by, he would have been hopping mad after a sloppy first-half from his men. But with a manager on the pitch – in Van Dijk – he stayed in control.
As did Liverpool – just – thanks to brilliant strikes in each half from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
The Senegal forward, like Van Dijk, used to light up St Mary’s before his switch to Merseyside.
And his screamer here underlined why he is now one of the most coveted playmakers on the planet.