For the last few years, football experts and former pros have claimed that Liverpool’s defence was a major barrier in their pursuit of the Premier League title. Even when Jamie Carragher was at the club, there was still a degree of imbalance at the back, as different partnerships were tried out and still, the team would regularly come undone by bad defending at a corner or giving away silly free-kicks that lead to goals.
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In recent years, Liverpool was unable to compete in the transfer market for the kind of fees that the top players were going for. The ownership of FSG and their trust in Jurgen Klopp has changed this approach, with Liverpool able to offer a world record fee of £75million for the Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk. That price was questioned by many rival football fans and TV pundits but Liverpool fans will tell you he has been worth every penny.
Crystal Palace struggled to break down a young defensive line-up
Last night Van Dijk lined up in a very young back line of Trent Alexander-Arnold (19), Joe Gomez (21) and Andy Robertson who has played just two seasons in the Premier League. Despite this, the back four looked organised and steady, with powerhouse Benteke unable to unsettle them. Zaha also had a good go but just could not get a breakthrough in the match that Liverpool won 2-0.
Van Dijk leading from the back
Van Dijk turned in a performance of the utmost quality, as he helped his team to continue their winning start to the Premier League season. He was handed the Man of the Match award after the game and the result against a team that had caused Liverpool so much trouble in the past is a big signal that things could eventually be changing for Liverpool. It is 28 years since they won the league title and they came closest under Brendan Rodgers when their 3-3 draw with Palace after leading 3-0 finally derailed their challenge, following the famous Steven Gerrard slip against Chelsea.
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Could it be Liverpool’s season after 28 years without a title?
With Brazilian goalkeeper, Alisson Becker added to the ranks plus a returning Dejan Lovren who will be buoyed by his performances for Croatia in the World Cup, Liverpool is looking like the team that will be pushing Manchester City all of the way this season. Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher thinks that Van Dijk can go on to become a legend in the same way that title-winning defenders like Hansen did all of those years ago. Liverpool fans will certainly be hoping that he can be the missing piece of the jigsaw that helps to bring silverware to Anfield very soon.
