Eyebrows were raised in certain quarters when Virgil van Dijk was named in the FIFA World XI at the governing body’s annual back-slapping bash earlier this week.
This being an era in which absolutely nothing that happened beyond last week truly counts, there were those who considered the Liverpool man’s inclusion to be somewhat bizarre.
Admittedly, based on recent performances, even Van Dijk would be hard pressed to argue his case, his struggles reflected in a Reds team whose targets have been significantly lowered since the start of the campaign.
AS IT HAPPENED: Liverpool vs Wolves final score, goals and highlights
RATINGS: Liverpool player ratings as Virgil van Dijk and midfielder outstanding vs Wolves
Some, though, have been too quick to dismiss the qualities of the Dutchman. And his importance to Liverpool was demonstrated at both ends of the pitch here as Jurgen Klopp’s team continued to edge their way closer to the Champions League qualification places.
At the back, Van Dijk – skipper for the evening with Jordan Henderson and James Milner benched – was impressive in negating what Wolverhampton Wanderers could muster, building on a decent showing during the forgettable goalless draw at Crystal Palace at the weekend.
The mid-season World Cup was an evident distraction for the defender, further hampered on his return from Qatar by a hamstring injury that sidelined him for more than a month during which the Reds suffered.
Now free of those issues, the Liverpool man is gradually recovering his form, helped this time by the return of Ibrahima Konate alongside him. There's a reason they have become the first-choice centre-back pairing under Klopp.
But it was in attack that Van Dijk made his most telling contribution, ending the resistance of the obdurate visitors with 17 minutes remaining by nodding home Diogo Jota’s clever return cross after his initial header from a free-kick had been brilliantly saved by Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.
Rather than mere revenge for the chastening 3-0 reverse at Molineux a month earlier, this win was a further sign of the ship being steadied by Liverpool after a harrowing start to the year. Indeed, they registered a fourth successive Premier League clean sheet since that defeat, their first such run in 11 months.
The gap to the top four is now down to six points with a game in hand, the Reds moving up to sixth. And if they are going to secure Champions League qualification, Van Dijk – as he has been throughout his Anfield career – is going to be pivotal.
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