Virgil van Dijk was on the scoresheet as Liverpool beat Sheffield United 2-0 in midweek and his manager is delighted the Dutchman is firing on all cylinders.
Virgil van Dijk is back to his world-class best for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp says: ‘Thank God!’
Van Dijk was huge in the midweek win at Sheffield United and scored Liverpool’s opening goal to keep them stuck behind Arsenal in the title race.
Liverpool have struggled when their defensive giant and skipper has been below his best and Klopp claims it’s great to have him performing at his best again.
He thanked the Almighty and hailed the Dutchman as the best defender in the world.
“Always has been and always will be. Virg is the best defender in the world,” said the Liverpool boss.
“Did he have less good spells? Yes. If you show me a player who has never had it, I’d be more than happy to meet them. To be honest, we all probably are.
“When we look back and the Rio Ferdinands on the planet, not to blame him, but were they good all the time? Or Jaap Stam, Sami Hyypia or whoever?
“Were they always perfect? No one was and no one will be. So, yes, Virg in this shape is super, super, super important to us.
“With Virg, whatever positive I said in the past, we can say it again because I still think exactly the same.
“Everyone can see that Virg is back and it’s obvious. Thank God!”
The Blades win was Liverpool’s second match in eight during a crazy 24 days this month.
Next up is Crystal Palace this lunchtime at Klopp’s favorite time of 12.30pm.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson is under pressure as the Eagles have won just one of their last eight league games and Klopp says the former Anfield boss was an inspiration when he was in his 20s.
“When Roy was manager of Switzerland, my former manager at Mainz, Wolfgang Frank, showed us a lot of videos of him,” he said.
“I am very happy to have met him here in the Premier League because he is an excellent person and a very good person.
“When I see him I ask him ‘what are you doing?’ But he looks happy and enjoying it, so I couldn’t respect him more. He was my inspiration.”
Klopp may bring Alisson back for the trip to Selhurst Park and the Brazil goalkeeper trained on Thursday after missing Liverpool’s last three games with a hamstring injury.
“Ali is an option,” he said. “I don’t know if we’ll get it. We don’t have much time, but enough time to talk to Ali, see how he feels and we will make a decision.”
Klopp also said he would like to see Joel Matip offered a new contract and the 32-year-old centre-half, in his eighth season at Anfield, may not play again before his current deal expires in June due to an ACL injury . .
“I would say that, but it’s not my decision,” he said. “I can’t sign the papers.
“I’m sure the club will show its class. He deserves all the support from us and he will get it.”
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