Rio Ferdinand shared what Virgil van Dijk told him about his recovery from injury - and indirectly sent a warning to Liverpool’s title rivals.
The Dutch defender returned to action at the start of the season, making his comeback after nine months out with an ACL injury. After his lengthy spell on the sidelines, there were fears among some onlookers that Van Dijk might not return to his indomitable best at the heart of the Reds defence.
However, the 30-year-old has been a near enough constant presence for Jurgen Klopp’s quadruple-chasing side this season. And Rio Ferdinand relayed what Van Dijk told him when he asked if he had made a full recovery.
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“There’s a time in your career where you feel invincible, where you can take any situation and he’s in that space now,” Ferdinand told BT Sport, ahead of Liverpool’s 1-0 win away to Newcastle. “I asked him if he feels better before his injury or after and he led me to believe now he’s in tip-top condition.”
The former Manchester United defender added: “It’s the consistency that he's got but it's impacting big games and making sure you’re decisive with decision making. The more he does the more impactful and a beast he becomes.”
That Van Dijk believes he is now as good as ever will be a worrying message for Liverpool ’s title rivals Manchester City and other elite clubs, following on from the recent news of Jurgen Klopp’s contract extension. Liverpool have kept 21 clean sheets in Van Dijk’s 32 league appearances so far this term and the defender feels there are few weaknesses in his game.
“I think I’m quite complete for modern-day football”, Van Dijk told Ferdiand in part of his interview for BT Sport. “You have to organise, you have an overview of the whole pitch.
“We play a lot of attacking football so you have to make sure your holding midfielder’s together with your other centre-back. I try to think ahead of what the striker or midfielder might do in his next move.”
