Left-back for Liverpool Luke Chambers has stated that he is attempting to emulate Virgil van Dijk’s defensive strategy.
Chambers may potentially start tonight’s Europa League match against Toulouse if Jurgen Klopp decides to call him up to the first team.
The 19-year-old has told liverpoolfc.com that the legendary captain of the Reds provides him with a ready-made role model at Anfield should he make the squad.
“I think I’m more of a stay-on-my-feet defender, I don’t really rush into a lot of stuff, and I’m more careful about my positioning,” says Chambers.
“I intercept a good number of passes because I read the play effectively and am always on the front foot.
“Virg is extremely graceful and has excellent game reading while he’s defending. They are, in my opinion, the greatest type of defenders available today. My strategy is centred around maintaining cool when defending.”
Chambers seeks to compare himself to Van Dijk.
Chambers is unlikely to start alongside Van Dijk if he does make his first-ever Liverpool start this evening.
It’s more likely that Jarell Quansah, a fellow young player, will start again at left centre back.
Still, Virgil is undoubtedly a very smart role model for any child to emulate. For someone like Chambers, the opportunity to train alongside a player of his calibre will be invaluable.
In order to make sure he succeeds at Liverpool, anything he can learn from the Dutchman would be helpful.
Van Dijk is still the best in the field, despite having a rough past year or two.
It should be mentioned that not everyone appreciates his sophisticated, carefree defending style. Van Dijk’s speed and his ability to read the game allow him to get away with this.
Years of playing against the greatest players in the league have given the forwards an accurate read on what they will do.
It would be prudent for Chambers to hold off on attempting such strategies until he has gained some of the expertise required to play that way.
That being said, Luke, go for it! We absolutely support having a back line full of Virgil!