Super Van is a Rolls-royce... he is the best and makes everyone else feel the same

Unlocking the

LIVERPOOL have become a great team because Virgil van Dijk, the best defender in the world, gives everyone around him the belief that they are great players too.

That’s the view of Celtic star Scott Brown, who was the Dutchman’s captain during Van Dijk’s two years north of the border.

Brown said: “Virgil Rolls-royce.

“He cruised it in the SPL and he’s cruising it in the Premier League – he has now shown he is the best defender in the world.

“What we’re seeing from him now is no surprise at all.

“The only surprise was that, when he l eft Celtic, only Southampton came in for him.

“Virgil has that willingness to win, a willingness to get better. He improves week in, week out.

Steady

is a

“He played with great players at Celtic and now he’s gone to Southampton and Liverpool and played with great players.

“He makes good players believe they can be great players as well, and what he has done at Liverpool too is steady the ship.

“He has made that team a hard team to beat and that is due to his work-rate. It’s the drive in him

EXCLUSIVE INSIGHT FROM VVD’S CAPTAIN AT CELTIC more than anything – you look at been a No.10, a No.6... But as a him and feel confident. centre-half he is so good.

“One person in the Premier “He was one of those you put League has beaten him in a one-onthat trust in, that belief. one in 75-odd games. “He comes forward with the ball

“So it’s that confidence and and you know he’s not going to belief that he puts in you that oozes lose it, he’s so strong he’s going to through the team.” cruise through.

Brown got a close-up view of “Then he’d hit free-kicks and Van Dijk’s immense talent every score for us. working day between 2013 and

2015, and reckons the 28-year-old was a class act whatever position he ended up playing in training.

He added: “Virgil could have

Physical

“So he has everything – he’s great in the air, he’s strong, physical and he’s quick.

“It’s everything everyone wants as a defender and Liverpool are luc lucky enough to have him.”

Shaky S defence had long been Liverpool’s Li key problem before thet arrival of Van Dijk (left, with w UEFA’S player of year trophy in August), but

Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren look different players p now for playing alongside al him.

Brown B said: “He reads the game so well, and he understands it. His first thought is, ‘If he makes a mistake, I can get there’, and he has the pace to do it.

“He is a step ahead of the game and that’s what makes him a topquality defender.

“He knows when to squeeze, he knows when he should sit off, and when to go and win a battle.

“You can’t win them all... but most of the time Virgil does.”