Michael Owen may have shown Rio Ferdinand where he lies among best defenders in football history as he makes Virgil van Dijk comparison
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| Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen present for BT Sport before Villarreal vs. Liverpool |
Virgil van Dijk has been Jurgen Klopp's Mr reliable in the duty of keeping his side's opposition attack on check. Ever since the Dutchman arrived at Anfield Liverpool have moved from height to height with impressive stats from their backline.
Liverpool closing in on a trophy-laden season this term have proved a point about the Reds growth under Jurgen Klopp who masterminded the signing of the former Southampton man in 2018.
If the Reds eventually do a quadruple this term it will go far as a huge achievement for Virgil van Dijk who needs to add more silverwares to his prowess.
Despite not being among the most decorated defender at this time, Owen is convinced that the 29-year-old has already booked his name among the greatest centre-backs to ever play football.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool's semi-final second leg against Villarreal in the European Cup, Owen and fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand discussed the best defenders in history. The former thinks the greatest will be on the pitch in Villarreal on Tuesday night.
"I’d go further and say he’s the best centre-half of all time," said Owen when asked why Van Dijk is better player than Ferdinand was.
"He probably scored a few more goals, we’re not talking much because we’re talking about the greatest here. Rio was the best centre-back I had ever played with. Van Dijk, as a centre-forward I look at him and think ‘what do you do against him?’ He’s bigger, faster, stronger than everyone, he’s brilliant on the ball, scores goals, I’ve never seen anything like it.
"The only thing that goes against him at the moment is his winners' medals. One league, one Champions League. People like Rio, [Paolo] Maldini, [Paolo] Baresi, people you consider as the greatest have numerous so, that’s the only thing. As a one-off, I think how can you get any better than him."
Ferdinand added that he was "happy to be in the conversation" to be considered one of the finest defenders ever and while he didn't make as bold a claim as Owen, he said Van Dijk "is the best centre-back on the planet right now, easy."