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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk surrounded by portraits of his greatest moments at the club(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Virgil van Dijk has been put on the same pedestal as legendary defenders Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi after signing a two-year contract extension with Liverpool.

It brought to an end the season-long debate over whether the Reds would be without their influential captain heading into next season, almost certainly as Premier League champions.

Knowing that he will be around for longer to help bring more success to Anfield, Roy told Tuttomercatoweb: "His renewal is good news for Liverpool.



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"After Maldini, [Alessandro] Costacurta, Baresi and [Mauro] Tassotti, there haven't been many defenders stronger than others in football up to now."

Between these Italian supremos compared here to Liverpool's Van Dijk are 25 Serie A titles and 19 European Cups/Champions Leagues combined.

With praise also for Arne Slot, Roy continued: "Since Virgil started playing with Slot, if possible he has improved even more.

Because with Arne he has found an organised style of football in a way that makes things much easier for him in possession, to play forward.

"The same can be said for the national team, with [Ronald] Koeman.

That's why he has distanced himself from the other defenders."

However, the man who partnered Stan Collymore at Nottingham Forest before the Englishman's 1995 transfer to Anfield made sure not to lay on too lavish praise for the Reds' No.4.

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"All he needs to win is the European Championship or the World Cup," Roy declared, setting Van Dijk a true challenge.

The Netherlands' Euro '88 triumph remains their only major tournament victory as a nation.

As English supporters know full well of their national team, desperation has grown to achieve such success again.

But time is running out if Van Dijk is to match Roy's demand.

Without problems beforehand he will captain the Dutch at next summer's FIFA World Cup - a tougher tournament now that it will increase to 48 competitors instead of 32 - and provided he carries on as long, the central defender would turn 37 years of age midway through the next Euros in 2028.