Virgil van Dijk

[Fosterbloke]

Can we change the thread title to just 'Virgil van Dijk'?

[Rich]

VVD and Lovren will be our CB pairing at the start of next season I reckon. Think they could prove an excellent pairing.

Lovren was very good last night. IF, big if, he could cut out the recklessness from his play he'd be a good partner to VVD.

[BigChief]

Lovren was very good last night. IF, big if, he could cut out the recklessness from his play he'd be a good partner to VVD.

Don't do it to yourself.

[gratziani]

Don't do it to yourself.

Sucked in by Dejan

[ronanm]

Classy player. Very good last night.

My only criticism of him is he does have a tendancy to turn his back on the ball when blocking. Got done last night for it but wasn't the first time he has done this for Liverpool.

[Irishnev]

Oozes class

[ame="https://twitter.com/btlcomps/status/964227359481257984"]https://twitter.com/btlcomps/status/964227359481257984[/ame]

[Yozza]

Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool defender says he had to 'step up' his game at Anfield

Virgil van Dijk says he had to "step up" his game when he joined Liverpool for £75m in January.

The former Celtic and Southampton centre-back, 26, scored on his debut at Anfield against Everton in the FA Cup.

However, Van Dijk says he has needed time to adapt to Jurgen Klopp's high-tempo, pressing style of play.

"I am getting used to how we play," he told Football Focus. "The intensity of our game is a lot higher than what I was used to."

The Netherlands international added: "Every day here is tough. We work very hard, run a lot and there is a big difference. I needed to step up my game, especially in the beginning. "

He had been expected to move to Liverpool last summer after he handed in a transfer request but a move fell through when the Anfield club apologised for making an alleged illegal approach and he was forced to train alone by manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

He returned to first-team action in September and finally joined Liverpool on 1 January for the biggest fee ever paid for a defender.

"People don't know what really happened," he said. "I kept my head down and kept playing. I was out for eight months and was just happy to play again.

"I just switched on again after the transfer window in the summer. I didn't think about anything until I got a phone call from the Southampton board."

A late Van Dijk header settled a Merseyside derby in the FA Cup third round on 5 January.

Speaking about his debut he added: "It was a crazy and busy week, something special that I will never forget. I wasn't even supposed to start the [Everton] game."

Liverpool are third in the Premier League, two points behind Manchester United, and thrashed Porto 5-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

"I came here to achieve everything possible," said Van Dijk.

"I made the choice to come here base on everything. I love the fans, the atmosphere in the stadium and at away games. The quality we have in our team is unbelievable. I am proud and happy to be here.

"Klopp is very good and an amazing guy as well. A lot of the attributes he has makes us achieve good things in the future."

You can watch the full interview on Football Focus on BBC One on Saturday from 12:00 GMT.

[Nicey]

Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool defender says he had to 'step up' his game at Anfield

Virgil van Dijk says he had to "step up" his game when he joined Liverpool for £75m in January.

The former Celtic and Southampton centre-back, 26, scored on his debut at Anfield against Everton in the FA Cup.

However, Van Dijk says he has needed time to adapt to Jurgen Klopp's high-tempo, pressing style of play.

"I am getting used to how we play," he told Football Focus. "The intensity of our game is a lot higher than what I was used to."

The Netherlands international added: "Every day here is tough. We work very hard, run a lot and there is a big difference. I needed to step up my game, especially in the beginning. "

He had been expected to move to Liverpool last summer after he handed in a transfer request but a move fell through when the Anfield club apologised for making an alleged illegal approach and he was forced to train alone by manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

He returned to first-team action in September and finally joined Liverpool on 1 January for the biggest fee ever paid for a defender.

"People don't know what really happened," he said. "I kept my head down and kept playing. I was out for eight months and was just happy to play again.

"I just switched on again after the transfer window in the summer. I didn't think about anything until I got a phone call from the Southampton board."

A late Van Dijk header settled a Merseyside derby in the FA Cup third round on 5 January.

Speaking about his debut he added: "It was a crazy and busy week, something special that I will never forget. I wasn't even supposed to start the [Everton] game."

Liverpool are third in the Premier League, two points behind Manchester United, and thrashed Porto 5-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

"I came here to achieve everything possible," said Van Dijk.

"I made the choice to come here base on everything. I love the fans, the atmosphere in the stadium and at away games. The quality we have in our team is unbelievable. I am proud and happy to be here.

"Klopp is very good and an amazing guy as well. A lot of the attributes he has makes us achieve good things in the future."

You can watch the full interview on Football Focus on BBC One on Saturday from 12:00 GMT.

Kloop is Key, he is a bigger draw than playing for Liverpool if we be honest, but the too together is such an attractive prospect, and this team is truly exciting with its best yeara ahead of it

[Assassin]

Kloop is Key, he is a bigger draw than playing for Liverpool if we be honest, but the too together is such an attractive prospect, and this team is truly exciting with its best yeara ahead of it

Whis is this Kloop???

[Yozza]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43244426

Video interview....

[brightred]

I like Virgil

[Les Zeffelin]

I like Virgil

FAB

[gratziani]

Absolutely effortless this bloke, reminds me of Hansen

[kemm1]

Absolutely effortless this bloke, reminds me of Hansen

His nickname should simply be "The General".

[danperkins]

I know Ox got MOM but for me hands down it was Virgil, another imperious performance from this Rolls Royce CB.