---
title: "Gomez highlights vast influence of ‘special’ Van Dijk"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/gomez-highlights-vast-influence-of-special-van-dijk/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2020-01-21T15:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-01-21T15:00:00Z"
---

# Gomez highlights vast influence of ‘special’ Van Dijk

Joe Gomez has lauded the vast influence of Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool, calling him a “special player”.

Gomez and Van Dijk have been outstanding alongside one another in recent months, helping Liverpool go [16 points clear](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/table) at the top of the Premier League, with a game in hand.

With the pair marshalling the troops, the Reds haven’t conceded in the league since the 5-2 win over Everton on December 4th, keeping seven clean-sheets in a row.

That’s the [longest stretch without conceding since Manchester United back in 2008/09](https://twitter.com/SkySportsStatto/status/1218966266142130177?s=20), when they kept 14 shutouts in a row in the league.

Speaking to [LiverpoolFC.com](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/383526-joe-gomez-virgil-van-dijk-liverpool-influence), Gomez couldn’t speak highly enough of Van Dijk, who was once again colossal in the [2-0 win at home to United](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51080695) on Sunday:

> I’m buzzing for Virg. Everyone knows how happy I am when he scores and it’s nice for us to put work in in training on those set-pieces and then they come off.

> I don’t think it’s easy to measure what he does for us as a team. He’s such a dominant character, a dominant player.

> He’s a special player and we’re lucky to have him at the club – he’s my big brother! He’s a top player and a top person to be alongside.

### Read Liverpool Verdict

I think Gomez has shown that he Van Dijk’s strongest centre-back partner moving forward.

That is nothing against Joel Matip, who was superb prior to injury, but he doesn’t possess his teammate’s pace, quality on the ball and long-term potential.

[Gomez](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/136451/Show/Joe-Gomez) has a pass completion rate of 89.4 percent in the league this season, while [Matip](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/74341/Show/Joel-Matip)‘s is only 83.1 percent.

It took a while for Gomez to find his best form again, following a [broken leg](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/02/04/liverpool-dealt-injury-blow-joe-gomez-undergo-surgery-leg-fracture/), but he is back to playing at the peak of his powers.

In my opinion, Liverpool not only have the world’s best centre-back in their ranks, but also the most exciting young player in that position, too.