Saints Marching
Fansided

Southampton vs. Liverpool: Premier League – Opposition Threats

By Joe Mcindoe

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on March 31, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on March 31, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 17: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool in action during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage on March 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 17: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool in action during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage on March 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /

Virgil Van Dijk-Defender

Saints fans may not have liked the way in which van Dijk departed the club, but even the most ardent critic would have a hard time denying his top-class talent.

During his time with Southampton, the Defender was a cut above the rest at the back. With excellent positional play, a strong awareness of ever developing threats, a solid grasp of the fundamentals, and a knack for leading from the back, Virgil was an obvious target for Liverpool.

An acrimonious exit plus a world record £75m fee (BBC Sport) later and the Dutchman’s signing appears to be doing the trick at Anfield.

From his 32 PL appearances this season, his employers have kept a clean sheet in half of them, according to the Premier League website. To put that in context LFC have already reached last season’s total of 17, with six games remaining.

Official statistics from the Premier League website also reveal that the CB has a 73% tackle success rate and has won 169 duels for possession across the season. In contrast the number four has only lost 58.

It gets worse for any hopeful Strikers as the 27-year-old is also an aerial headache. van Dijk has triumphed in 199 aerial contests this campaign losing just 58.

Put simply, Virgil van Dijk is the complete backline package and will prove difficult to bypass. To make matters worse he has also proven to be a force to be reckoned with from attacking set pieces.