“It’s not a debate!” – Dave Hendrick reacts to Virgil van Dijk vs John Terry conversation | OneFootball

Dave Hendrick Reacts to the Virgil van Dijk vs John Terry Debate

Few discussions among Liverpool supporters spark as much intense debate as comparing modern greats with legends from previous generations. On the Anfield Index Daily Red podcast, host Dave Hendrick tackled one such topic head-on, considering whether Virgil van Dijk stands as one of the greatest defenders in Premier League history and how his achievements compare to those of John Terry and other storied centre-backs.

During the podcast segment covering this defensive debate, Hendrick’s assessment of Van Dijk’s recent performances was emphatic. As he put it, “In the last 5 or 6 games, Virgil van Dijk has been better than he was when he was the best defender in the world.”

This statement summarises not only the confidence Hendrick has in Van Dijk’s current form for Liverpool but also frames the tone of a wider conversation about where the Dutchman sits in the pantheon of Premier League defenders.

Much of the discussion weighed Van Dijk’s credentials against iconic figures from earlier eras. As reported, the host called into question some of the nostalgia surrounding past greats when he stated that “John Terry wasn’t even the best centre-back in his own Chelsea team — Ricardo Carvalho was better.”

Comparing Eras and Defensive Contexts

Hendrick’s comparison was not limited to Terry. He also referenced defenders like Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić, suggesting that others were statistically or qualitatively superior in their respective teams. In his view, defenders of the past sometimes escaped rigorous scrutiny because of the broader tactical contexts in which they played.

A key point in the debate was the changing nature of the Premier League. Hendrick highlighted that “more teams score 60 or more goals now than in any era Ferdinand, Vidić, or Terry played in,” emphasising how attacking threats have evolved.

This meant that Van Dijk faced a broader array of high-calibre forwards across multiple teams, rather than the more concentrated list of elite attackers from earlier decades.

Photo: IMAGO

Tactical Evolution and the Modern Defender

A central theme was tactical evolution. Hendrick observed that Van Dijk’s role in a Liverpool side that frequently presses and plays a high line demands different qualities compared to defenders like Terry, whose teams typically defended deeper with more midfield protection. He said, “Virgil defends the halfway line. Terry and Vidić defended their 18-yard boxes with deep blocks and heavy midfield protection.”

In this context, Liverpool’s tactical setup under successive managers placed different demands on centre-backs. For Van Dijk, speed, anticipation and ball progression from the back are integral. For Terry, leadership and positional mastery within a more conservative system defined his era.

Hendrick went even further, claiming that in the modern Liverpool system, “John Terry couldn’t have played in Klopp’s Liverpool team; he simply lacked the pace.” While this assertion is provocative, it underscores the contrasting demands placed on defenders across eras.

Technical Mastery and Complete Defending

Beyond speed and tactics, Hendrick praised Van Dijk’s all-round technical attributes. He described the Dutchman as having no weak points, saying there was “no area where you look at Virgil and think, ‘That’s a weak point.’ He’s flawless in aerial duels, passing, and one-on-one defending.”

That blend of physical, technical and mental qualities is part of why the podcast host labelled Van Dijk “the most complete centre-back to ever play the game.”

Verdict From the Podcast

By the end of the discussion, Hendrick’s position was clear: in his estimation, Van Dijk’s combination of contemporary consistency and ability to handle evolving attacking threats places him at or above the level of many celebrated defenders from previous decades.

His closing statement on the topic was unequivocal. Hendrick declared that Van Dijk “isn’t just the best centre-back in Premier League history, he’s arguably the best to ever play the game. This isn’t even a debate!”

Whether you agree with every nuance of that claim, this segment of the Anfield Index podcast provides a compelling, data-informed and passionately argued perspective on Liverpool’s defensive talisman and how he stacks up with legends such as John Terry.