Following the Liverpool captain’s performance against Everton in the Merseyside derby, Janusz Michallik has claimed that he is beginning to see Virgil van Dijk return to his very best.
After the defender performed a magnificent performance to help the Reds keep a clean sheet against the Toffees at Anfield, Michallik was speaking on ESPN.
Since assuming the captain’s role in the summer, Virgil van Dijk has unquestionably improved. The 32-year-old has long been regarded as the standard for the Premier League’s current center-backs.
After he suffered the catastrophic injury that kept him out for the duration of the 2020–21 season, his form did seem to be declining somewhat. Furthermore, the Dutchman’s ability to regain his greatest form was always going to be exceedingly challenging given his advanced age.
Virgil van Dijk is praised by Janusz Michallik.
But he is unquestionably moving towards returning to the top. In fact, Janusz Michallik thinks that van Dijk appeared to be himself in the 2-0 Merseyside derby triumph over Everton.
“By the way, I’m starting to see van Dijk at, I dare say, his absolute best. He’s slowly but surely getting there and that’s important. I wasn’t sure if he was going to get back to the van Dijk before his injury,” he told ESPN.
a captain’s performance
Van Dijk made sure Everton had little enthusiasm for offence. Surprisingly, according to Whoscored, he won 10 aerial duels during the competition. Joel Matip has four fewer than that. It was also twice as much of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose skill in the air is maybe his greatest asset in build-up play.
In the Premier League thus far this season, only Manchester City, Arsenal, and Tottenham have given up less goals than their opponents.
In a few areas, Liverpool are still not particularly strong. Particularly, they are lacking a top-tier holding midfielder.
However, they are reclaiming the title image at the beginning of this campaign. And van Dijk’s comeback to what may be his finest form has significantly affected the side.
Van Dijk has a lot more to offer, according to the facts at hand, before Jurgen Klopp needs to consider replacing him.