Vincent Kompany says Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk is best-ever Premier League defender

E x-Manchester City star, Vincent Kompany believes Liverpool defender, Virgil Van Dijk made the Merseyside less “vulnerable” and thus the greatest defender in Premier League history.

Van Dijk teamed up with Jurgen Klopp’s side in January 2018 from Southampton and has been a mainstay in the heart of Liverpool’s defence which saw them reaching the final of the Champions League the same year.

His contributions to the team in the following season was instrumental as the Premier League side claimed the Champions League crown and they are also on the verge of winning the domestic title this term.

 Although Kompany, now a coach with Anderlecht, has played against defenders like Rio Ferdinand and John Terry in his time at the Etihad Stadium, the Belgian rates the Dutchman above them.

Van Dijk has been able to combine “old-school defending with a modern twist” and helped Liverpool push for honours on both domestic and European fronts, Kompany argued.

He explained that he has never seen Klopp’s side show the kind of “supremacy” they are exhibiting this year.

“It’s very difficult to have a player that has such a big impact at a big club,” the Belgian told BBC Football Focus. “He has brought back old-school defending with a modern twist – and I respect that.”