It is becoming boring talking about the quality that Virgil van Dijk possesses.

The Liverpool defender is arguably one of the best defenders that has ever graced the game, and his legacy in the Premier League is unmatched.

It is safe to say that when the 33-year-old is at his best, he looks invincible.



Despite his age, he has remained elite, and his recent new contract highlights Liverpool’s faith in him.

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Since 2006/07, when Opta records began, Van Dijk has won 74.9 per cent of his aerial duels, the highest among outfield players to have been involved in more than 50 duels.

He is also first among centre-backs for interceptions (433), second among centre-backs for duels won (1,716), and second for clearances (1,472).

While fans, especially of the Liverpool persuasion, acknowledge him as the best defender that has ever played in the Premier League, the number of fellow professionals who name him above the likes of John Terry, Sol Campbell, and Rio Ferdinand is in their number.

For example, former Manchester City defender and current Bayern Munich coach chose Van Dijk as the best Premier League defender ever.

“I would choose Virgil van Dijk as the best defender in Premier League history,” Kompany told Sporf back in May 2020.

“It is a strange choice, because he is not in the scene as long as boys like Terry and Ferdinand.

Those boys have played in the league for a very long time.

“But the signals that Van Dijk gives in his last few seasons make it so clear that if he had gone to the absolute top before, he would be even further.”

Former Liverpool players Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher equally named Van Dijk as the best defender the league has ever produced.

“I think he’s the best centre-half of all time,” Owen told TNT Sport in May 2024.

“He’s bigger than everyone, he’s faster than everyone, he’s stronger than everyone, he’s brilliant on the ball, he scores goals.

I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Please stop this silly debate about the best centre-back, it’s not even close.

Van Dijk “the best centre-back we’ve ever seen in the Premier League,” Carragher said on X in December 2024.

And Fulham star Calvin Bassey has joined the dozens of observers and fellow professionals who think no defender in the Premier League has exceeded Van Dijk’s level.

While it is understandable that Bassey will choose Van Dijk, the manner in which he appeared to dismiss every other defender when the Liverpool captain’s name was brought up in the conversation shows how much he rates the 33-year-old.

Asked to rate the best defender in a ‘Winner Stays Game,’ Bassey named Van Dijk ahead of the likes of Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, and Kompany.

While he took to asses his options when other defenders were being compared, the 24-year-old did not waste time to choose Van Dijk ahead of every other defender he was compared with.

Asked if any defender will beat Van Dijk, he said:

“No.

No one is beating Virgil for me.”

Bassey’s comments mirror those of several other stars who consider the colossal Liverpool man as the best in the business, ever.

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