“He’s the best in the league by a mile” – Liverpool star praised despite team’s recent performances | OneFootball

Virgil van Dijk Still Setting the Standard Despite Liverpool Struggles

Liverpool’s season may have unravelled around him, but according to David Lynch on the latest Media Matters podcast for Anfield Index, Virgil van Dijk remains the best centre back in the Premier League by a considerable distance.

Following Liverpool’s latest defeat at Aston Villa, Dave Davis and David Lynch analysed another chaotic defensive display from Arne Slot’s side. Yet amid the criticism aimed at Liverpool’s structure, tactics and organisation, Van Dijk emerged as one of the few players to receive overwhelming praise.

Davis highlighted the Liverpool captain’s contribution after another difficult afternoon for the team, saying: “He gets two goals from set pieces. The skipper the only real one to come away with credit.”

Lynch agreed immediately, but insisted Van Dijk’s influence extends far beyond his attacking contribution.

Virgil van Dijk Praised Despite Liverpool Problems

Lynch argued that Van Dijk’s performances this season have been badly overlooked because of Liverpool’s wider collapse as a team.

“I think his defensive performance generally this season has been incredible as well,” Lynch said.

That view comes despite Liverpool enduring one of their most unstable defensive campaigns in recent years. Throughout the podcast, Lynch repeatedly described Liverpool as “a complete mess” structurally, with the team too easy to play through and constantly exposed out of possession.

For him, those collective failings have unfairly damaged perceptions of Van Dijk’s individual level.

“He won’t get praised for that because Liverpool as a defensive unit, as a football team, as a unit are in absolute shambles,” Lynch explained.

Liverpool Captain Still Premier League Best

The strongest comments arrived when Lynch addressed suggestions that Van Dijk may be declining physically. Some pundits, he said, have started to argue the Liverpool captain no longer looks the same player.

Lynch rejected that idea completely.

“I still think he’s the best in the league by a mile,” he said.

While acknowledging that Van Dijk may no longer quite be operating at his extraordinary 2019 peak, Lynch maintained the Dutch defender remains comfortably above every other centre back in the Premier League.

“Maybe he’s not 2019 Van Dijk, but I still think he’s comfortably the best,” he added.

That distinction became an important part of the conversation. Liverpool’s struggles under Arne Slot have created an environment where even elite players are being questioned, yet Lynch argued Van Dijk is suffering more from the chaos around him than from any major decline in his own performances.

Photo: IMAGO

Arne Slot Structure Leaving Van Dijk Exposed

One recurring theme throughout the podcast was how Liverpool’s tactical setup has left defenders isolated far too often this season.

Lynch said Van Dijk has “had way too much to do and been made to look stupid at times”, but stressed that responsibility lies with the wider structure rather than the defender himself.

“I just think he’s in an awful team,” Lynch said. “I think his quality hasn’t declined in the slightest.”

That point underlined the broader frustration surrounding Liverpool’s campaign. While criticism around Arne Slot continues to intensify, Lynch believes Van Dijk has remained one of the few constants in an otherwise disjointed side.

As Liverpool prepare for another crucial summer, questions continue to surround recruitment, tactical direction and the future of several senior players. Yet if the discussion on Anfield Index is any indication, there is little doubt inside the club’s media circles that Virgil van Dijk still deserves recognition as the Premier League’s outstanding centre back.