Having transferred to Liverpool last season for a record fee, Virgil van Dijk has had a profound effect on his new club. No other player in the Premier League has helped his club to more clean sheets. The Reds haven’t conceded a goal at home since February.
It was a transfer that some feared would have a catastrophic impact on the transfer market and on the player. Southampton relented on parting ways with the Dutch defender in January 2018. The transfer fee was reportedly £75 million. It was by a wide margin the largest sum paid for a defender. Virgil van Dijk’s salary was nothing to sneeze at either. The defender now earns £180,000-a-week.
Great start to our @premierleague campaign, good result and a clean sheet! Now focus on next week #weareliverpool 💪 pic.twitter.com/2F42s2NIzd
— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) August 12, 2018
Van Dijk quick to make an impact
Worries that the Dutchman would need a time to settle in at Anfield were quickly laid to rest. Van Dijk wasted no time in becoming a starting player for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Since he joined, Liverpool have reached the Champions League final. They’re also considered one of the best Premier League teams at the moment. Much of this has to do with the almost spotless defending record, for which the Dutchman deserves plenty of praise.
The defender’s transfer was a bitter pill to swallow for Southampton fans. Moving to Anfield was certainly a step forward in his career. However, van Dijk insists it was Klopp’s vision for the club and the special atmosphere surrounding the Reds that counted in his decision.
“I never really go to big games to watch as a fan but I was in Cardiff. The sponsors hooked us up with two fantastic seats. From the moment I got there, a lot of people in hospitality were Liverpool fans and they were saying ‘join, please join.’ It was funny to see how big the support and fanbase of Liverpool is. It does something to you,” the Dutch international said last season.
Liverpool’s new squad additions
Liverpool started the new season in exciting fashion. Klopp’s men disposed of West Ham United by four goals to zero. It was a special occasion for new squad additions Allison Becker and Naby Keita, making their Premier League debut. The team looks to have improved from last season and fans are naturally hopeful that the club will be able to challenge for the Premier League crown. The last time the team won the trophy was 27 years ago.
As for FootballCoin, the contests are well underway, with the Premier League proving to be one of the most popular competitions. Virgil van Dijk is represented in the game by a 3* card. The defender managed a nice 30.22 score in the last contest. Liverpool, with van Dijk likely to start, return for this Saturday’s contest. Don’t forget to register, join and show off your skills for a chance of winning.
