---
title: "Van Dijk tipped as a future Liverpool captain"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/feature-writers/van-dijk-tipped-future-liverpool-captain/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Elliott Cuff"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2018-02-08T20:36:46Z"
modified: "2018-02-08T20:36:46Z"
---

# Van Dijk tipped as a future Liverpool captain

Virgil van Dijk has been lauded as a future Liverpool captain, by both Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier.

Van Dijk became the latest in a line of players to make the switch from Southampton to Liverpool in recent years when he signed for the Reds’ for £75million in early January, joining the likes of Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren and Sadio Mané.

The Sky Sports duo have commented on why they believe that the deal suited all parties, ahead of Van Dijk’s return to St. Marys this weekend.

While Thompson believes it will take until next season for the Dutch defender to fully settle and realise his potential, he fully believes that he has the right qualities to captain the club. [Talking on Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/11241360/virgil-van-dijk-a-future-liverpool-captain-say-phil-thompson-and-matt-le-tissier), he said;

> Dare I say it, he looks a future captain material. The way he plays, with his presence, I’d like to think he could grow into that role in another 12 months.
>
> He needs to be a better organiser, which will come with experience, because you need to have that ability to make sure everybody is organised, even when you’re not having a good game yourself.

Le Tissier also agreed that he possess captaincy qualities, suggesting that he is one of the Premier League’s most talented defenders. He said;

> He has captaincy potential, but there’s also part of him which just switches off when it is a bit too easy, which if he’s going to be a captain he has to eradicate from his game.
>
> There’s definitely more to come from him. Before his injury he was right up there with the best centre backs in the Premier League, although Toby Alderweireld is perhaps a fraction better all-round defender because of that consistency.

However, Le Tissier also commented that while Van Dijk is a marked defensive improvement, they will need more than just the Dutchman if they are to rectify their inconsistent backline. He continued;

> I think the deal suits both parties as Liverpool desperately needed a defender and we (Southampton) got a world-record fee for a defender. In terms of the price I think it is pretty good business.
>
> Van Dijk won’t be a one-man fix for their defensive errors alone and \[Dejan\] Lovren has escaped a bit of criticism for his error which led to Kane’s first penalty \[last weekend\] because of the controversy.
>
> I think if Liverpool have realistic ambitions of the title then I think they need a better centre-back partner and goalkeeper. Joe Gomez has the potential to be a top defender but Lovren, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan don’t look up to it.

Liverpool will be hoping to take all three points on Sunday as the battle for a top-four finish continues, but one thing that looks certain is the frosty reception awaiting Van Dijk when he returns to St Mary’s.