At 33 years old, Virgil van Dijk remains one of only four outfield players to have featured in every minute of Liverpool’s Premier League season so far. Despite entering the veteran stage of his career, van Dijk’s influence on the team is as vital as ever. There were expectations that his form or physicality might start to show signs of decline, but the Dutch centre-back continues to perform at an elite level.
His partnership with Ibrahima Konate has been the bedrock of Liverpool’s exceptional season, with the team currently holding a four-point lead at the top of the EPL table.
Are @LFC‘s Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate the best defensive pair in the Premier League? 🔴
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Virgil van Dijk’s Defensive Impact
Van Dijk is still among the top defenders in the league, especially in terms of duels, an area where he has consistently excelled. While his current numbers are slightly down compared to last season, he still ranks within the top five in both aerial and ground duel success among regular EPL starters.
Van Dijk’s Stats: This Season vs. Last Season
| Metric | Last Season (PL Rank) | This Season (PL Rank) |
|---|---|---|
| Duel Success | 75.58% (2nd) | 70.55% (2nd) |
| Aerial Duel Success | 81.40% (1st) | 72.38% (4th) |
| Aerial Duels Won | 140 (2nd) | 76 (Tied 4th) |
| Interceptions | 39 (Tied 11th) | 36 (5th) |
One noticeable shift this season under head coach Arne Slot is Van Dijk’s increased focus on making interceptions. With 36 already, he’s just three away from his total for the entire previous campaign. He has never averaged 1.5 interceptions per 90 minutes in a full season, so this represents clear improvement in this aspect of his game. Liverpool’s more compact defensive shape and pragmatic approach have reduced space for opposition teams, allowing Van Dijk to step in more frequently to intercept.
Impressive Distribution
Van Dijk’s passing ability remains a crucial asset for Liverpool. As a “quarterback” at the back, he has already completed 1,721 successful passes this season—224 more than the second-highest passer in the division, Chelsea’s Levi Colwill. His ability to direct passes into the final third is unmatched by any other defender, a testament to his importance in moving the ball forward for his team.
Passes into the Final Third (2024/25 Season)
| Player | Passes |
|---|---|
| Virgil van Dijk (LIV) | 219 |
| Jan Paul van Hecke (BHA) | 212 |
| Joachim Andersen (FUL) | 198 |
| Illia Zabarnyi (BOU) | 196 |
Confident in his ability, Van Dijk can deliver long passes either sweeping across his body or firing crossfield balls to his right. This style of distribution has been vital in getting Liverpool’s attacking wingers, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, into dangerous positions, enhancing the team’s offensive.
Source: https://www.premierleague.com/news/4244706
