---
title: "Van Dijk is “perfect”, says Mills – where will he rank among the greats?"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/van-dijk-is-perfect-says-mills-where-will-he-rank-among-the-greats/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2019-10-14T11:00:12Z"
modified: "2019-10-14T11:00:12Z"
---

# Van Dijk is “perfect”, says Mills – where will he rank among the greats?

Virgil van Dijk is already one of the best defenders of his generation, but he has the ability to become an all-time great.

The Dutchman has been a remarkable signing by Liverpool, performing to an immaculate level since arriving in January 2018.

He is now widely regarded as the world’s premier centre-back, with the 28-year-old surely worth at least double the amount (£75 million) the Reds paid Southampton for his services.

Speaking to [https://www.footballinsider247.com/perfect-exclusive-danny-mills-blown-away-by-liverpool-star-who-is-example-for-others/](https://www.footballinsider247.com/perfect-exclusive-danny-mills-blown-away-by-liverpool-star-who-is-example-for-others/)*[Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/perfect-exclusive-danny-mills-blown-away-by-liverpool-star-who-is-example-for-others/)*, Danny Mills described Van Dijk as “perfect”, hailing his all-round quality as a footballer:

> Van Dijk is perfect.

> The set-up that he has, he’s strong, he’s powerful and he’s aggressive, at the right times, and then as a secondary option, he is good on the ball.

> But first and foremost, he is good on the ball and people need to get back to the basics if you want to play centre-half at a top-level, and there’s no better example than Virgil van Dijk.

### Read Liverpool Verdict

It is so easy to show recency bias with current players, but Van Dijk really is a special footballer.

Few centre-backs over the past 20 years have found such a dominant level of form and been so influential for both club and country.

He is the man Liverpool supporters fear losing more than anyone else – a long-term injury would be a devastating blow.

If Van Dijk can keep up his current level for the next four or five years – there’s nothing to suggest he can’t – and win trophies along the way, he will go down as one of the best players in history in his position.

That may sound like a bod prediction, but he is that good.