Liverpool struck gold on “world-class” star

Who’s the best participant in Liverpool’s fashionable historical past? Actually, if we’re speaking about post-millenial brilliance, Steven Gerrard sits on the prime of the tree.

Gerrard is likely to be the best participant within the Merseysiders’ historical past anyway, totally unimaginable and synonymous with the town’s beating pink coronary heart.

Nevertheless, we’re Liverpool’s resurgence over the previous decade, right here, when Jurgen Klopp saved a group from drowning and turned it again towards the sunshine.

So many superstars have graced Anfield’s pitch because the former German supervisor was appointed as Brendan Rodgers’ successor, however it’s exhausting to argue in opposition to Virgil van Dijk being the cream of the crop.

Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool’s hero

When Liverpool paid Premier League rivals Southampton a £75m sum to take their prized centre-back in January 2018, many opposing followers chuckled at such an obscene determine for a defender.

But it surely’s troublesome to say that Liverpool and their Dutch skipper have not had the final snicker, with Van Dijk remodeling the Reds’ shaky backline and main them to glory, successful all the most important honours, coming inside a whisker of Lionel Messi on the Ballon d’Or podium in his prime and immortalising his title because the chief of Liverpool of their most interesting interval in fashionable occasions.

The 33-year-old is now not a vivid new voice within the Premier League however he is nonetheless matchless in defence, so necessary this season as Arne Slot’s aspect shocked everybody and assumed a commanding lead on the prime of the desk – 11 factors clear with seven video games to go.

And he is not accomplished but. Van Dijk has accomplished 313 appearances for Liverpool and received the complete gamut, and although his profitable contract is into its eleventh hour, he is just lately allayed followers’ considerations by confirming that talks are ongoing concerning a renewal.

This will probably be essential for the Anfield aspect because it steers into the second 12 months of Slot’s challenge, giving the Netherlands icon one other 12 months (or two) to drive the stake of his legacy even deeper into the wealthy Liverpool soil.

To be honest, you’d should say that Mohamed Salah is Liverpool’s greatest signing in a protracted, very long time. The Egyptian joined the membership from AS Roma for simply £34m and has gone on to say legendary standing.

Nevertheless, his arrival preceded the skipper’s. He was adopted from the Serie A by one other although, and it’s he who stands proud as Liverpool’s standout signing.

Liverpool’s greatest signing after Van Dijk

You’ve got most likely already guessed who it’s. Whereas Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and co have reshaped Liverpool’s midfield and charged the membership’s cost towards the Premier League title this season, it isn’t them.

Whereas Ibrahima Konate, Luis Diaz and and Cody Gakpo have been instrumental in Liverpool’s success in recent times, it is Alisson Becker between the sticks who has been the life-juice since arriving within the early knockings of Klopp’s still-standing (even when he is gone) dynasty.

Liverpool paid a world-record £67m payment – for a goalkeeper – to safe Alisson’s signature, however it nonetheless seems like one thing of a cut price. Fairly merely, the Brazil worldwide’s positional rivals all pale compared.

Slot has been more than pleased to chip in about his keeper’s calibre, hailing his “world-class” saves. He is the most effective of the most effective, along with his beautiful show on the Parc des Princes in February the proper illustration of his lofty expertise.

Making 9 beautiful saves and stopping an xG complete of two.26 targets, as per Sofascore, the South American referred to as it “the efficiency of my life” as Liverpool one way or the other survived a ceaseless onslaught and emerged victorious – they misplaced the return leg, in fact, however Alisson nonetheless put in a very good shift.

First-leg match-winner, Harvey Elliott, additionally referred to as his towering teammate “the most effective on the earth” – and it is a honest declare certainly.

It isn’t simply this season that the 32-year-old’s been in effective fettle, as you certainly know. Again in Might 2023, Klopp declared that his shot-stopping star had been the membership’s “most constant participant” via a testing 12 months.

In reality, accidents apart, Alisson isn’t within the firing line for poor performances, along with his management, command and shot-saving prowess all converging to current a participant who is really the whole bundle.

The truth that Alisson, who arrived at Liverpool manner again when, stays Liverpool’s greatest signing since Van Dijk was introduced into Klopp’s squad six months earlier makes a telling touch upon the problems behind recruitment over latest years.

It additionally particulars a reasonably agency evaluation concerning the Reds’ completely staggering longevity, probably not making the sweeping modifications of their divisional rivals over the previous eight years or so.

Liverpool have accomplished properly to prudently tie Giorgi Mamardashvili down, however whether or not he’ll attain the identical unimaginable heights because the Brazilian is one other query fully.

The Georgian keeper is ready to affix from Valencia this summer time in a deal price £29m, however the 24-year-old is bound to spend a while serving as Alisson’s understudy, changing Caoimhin Kelleher because the in a position deputy leaves in the hunt for a first-choice spot.

Alisson’s place is at Anfield for the foreseeable, however he is about to enter the penultimate 12 months of his contract and will go away for a switch payment in a single 12 months’s time or possibly see his £150k-per-week deal out to its finish.

In any case, the 6 foot 4 sensation is certainly one of Liverpool’s most interesting fashionable gamers, so necessary, so influential, through the years. There is a agency case to be made that every one who’ve walked via the gates since have did not outstrip him.