Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson believes only one man can stop Erling Haaland ️: “If anyone can stop Haaland, Van Dijk can.” ️ via Squawka
In the upcoming round 13 of the Premier League, a highly anticipated match between Manchester City and Liverpool is set to take place. The spotlight will be on main striker Erling Haaland, who is expected to feature in the game after recovering from a minor injury sustained while on duty with the Norwegian national team. Haaland’s return is significant for Manchester City, as they currently boast the best defensive record in the tournament.
It’s worth noting that Haaland failed to find the net in two encounters against Liverpool last season, when he faced the formidable Virgil Van Dijk. Although Van Dijk faced a dip in form last season following a serious injury caused by a challenge from Jordan Pickford, the Dutch star has made an impressive comeback this season. Not only has he regained his peak performance, but he has also surpassed expectations in his role as the team’s captain.
While Liverpool’s defense has faced an average of 12.8 shots per match (making them the 11th most targeted defense in the Premier League, in comparison to Arsenal’s 8.4 shots per match and Manchester City’s 7.5 shots per match), only 47 of those shots have been on target, which is the fourth fewest in the tournament. Van Dijk and the Liverpool defenders have done an excellent job of limiting the number of dangerous attempts on goalkeeper Alisson.
When comparing Van Dijk to other top midfielders in the Premier League, he stands out in various fundamental defensive aspects such as ball recovery, accurate passing, aerial duels, interceptions, and clearances in the penalty area. Even William Saliba of Arsenal, who initially boasted the best tackle rate in the league, now trails behind Van Dijk. Only Tottenham’s Cristian Romero can rival Van Dijk in terms of ball interceptions and defensive duels.
Although some relatively lesser-known clubs have showcased impressive midfielders this season, such as Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen, Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, and Brighton’s Lewis Dunk, let’s compare Van Dijk with the likes of Saliba, Romero, Thiago Silva, and Ruben Dias.