Ex-Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia thinks that Virgil van Dijk has improved Liverpool from the communication and confidence that he brings.
Goal reports that the former Finnish international, speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League encounter with Roma this week, thinks van Dijk has solidified their defence and helped others around him, saying:
Since he has been in the team they’ve cut off the individual mistakes at the back. Every player seems to have raised their level.
The Reds have only conceded 14 goals in the 18 matches that the Dutchman has appeared in, and they’ve looked much more assured at the back, evident over the two-legged display against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final where they only conceded one.
Hyypia thinks part of the improvement is down to the leadership that the 26-year-old has shown since signing from Southampton:
I thought Liverpool didn’t have many leaders in the squad. And now comes one more and he takes the burden off the others like Henderson and Milner, and I think they’ve raised their level as well.
Liverpool fans will be hoping van Dijk will become a club legend like Hyypia is, and they will also hope he can emulate the former captain’s achievement of winning the Champions League.
