Liverpool legend Ian Rush has dismissed claims that Virgil van Dijk can be compared to former club great Alan Hansen.
The Reds centre-back has been earning himself plenty of praise in recent times as he continues to impress in his first full season at Anfield.
Van Dijk has established himself as a vital cog in Jurgen Klopp’s plans for the club and has been utilised alongside all three of Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip in central defence this term.
Sections of Liverpool fans have suggested that the Netherlands captain can now be regarded among the club’s greatest ever centre-backs, with comparisons to Hansen made recently by former defender Jamie Carragher, as well.
Rush, however, has been quick to cool these statements, insisting that Van Dijk is still some way off the Scotsman and his achievements. As quoted by talkSPORT, he said:
Well, he’s still got a long way to go, for me. If Alan Hansen would be playing football today, he’d be an absolute world-beater.
Even in our day, he never tackled anyone, but on the ball, he was absolutely unbelievable. He was like a midfielder.
