Virgil van Dijk has signed on for two more years at Liverpool, with the Dutchman’s legend at Anfield set to continue.

The former Southampton centre-back has developed into one of the best defenders in Premier League history since making the move to Anfield in 2018, with Van Dijk now Liverpool’s captain and set to lift the title later this month as skipper.

As a result of Van Dijk’s performances for Liverpool over the last seven years, the 33-year-old has earned a spot in the grand-old debate on who is the Premier League’s best-ever defender, as well as where the centre-back ranks in the pantheon of the Reds’ greatest.

And Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has now shared if Van Dijk ranks higher thank Alan Hansen as the club’s best-ever defender.

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Speaking to Sky Sports, the pundit gave Hansen the nod ahead of Van Dijk when asked if the current Liverpool defender is the greatest in the club’s history, even with Souness saying that the Dutchman is the current best centre-back in the world.

With Chris Sutton naming Van Dijk as the Premier League’s best-ever defender, the 33-year-old centre-back’s reputation is only growing every year with the Reds, a legacy that could reach new heights in the next two seasons.

Yet for now, Souness still ranks Hansen above Van Dijk in the debate of Liverpool’s best defender, with the pundit saying: “By a country mile [Van Dijk is the current best defender in the world], but he’s not as good as Alan Hansen.

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“I was watching Arne saying how impressed he was with Virgil carrying the ball out of defence, Virgil’s very good at that, but Alan Hansen was like a midfielder in disguise, you couldn’t get the ball off him.

If you wanted the perfect pairing, Alan Hansen and Virgil van Dijk.”

Even at 33-years-old, Van Dijk looks like he could keep playing at the highest level for another three or even four seasons, with the Liverpool captain showing no sign of slowing down just yet in the Premier League.

And if Van Dijk does indeed remain a member of Liverpool’s backline for the next few years in what could be an era of unprecedented success under Arne Slot, it will be hard to not call the former Southampton man the club’s best defender ever.

With a second Premier League title on the horizon and more silverware likely, Van Dijk’s legend at Liverpool will only grow with each passing season, where the centre-back could surpass Hansen.


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