Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has compared the leadership skills of Virgil Van Dijk to his ex-teammate Jamie Carragher.
Heskey scored 39 goals in 150 appearances for the Reds played at a time when the club were lucky to have players with strong leadership qualities.
The likes of Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypia, Gary McAllister, Dietmar Hamann and Carragher all played a major role in the success that Liverpool enjoyed in domestic and European competitions during the early to mid 2000s.
Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez built their game plan around a rock solid defence where Hyypia and Carragher were so instrumental.
While Jurgen Klopp's football philosophy is largely different to those two managers, it is clear that he wanted to put a larger emphasis on the defence in the off season and the results have been evident for all to see.
Heskey has seen enough of Van Dijk's qualities to compare him to the legendary Liverpool defender.
Sky Sports reported Heskey as saying:
"When you look at Van Dijk and when you look at Liverpool, in essence they haven't had that leader I would go as far back as Jamie Carragher.
"Someone who really commands a defence. Someone who really stands out and is counted for. Someone who is marshalling people around.
"Now Van Dijk has come in and he seems to be that man. He's a great defender, he's quick, he's good in the air, he barks out orders. So what more do you need?
" It seems that everyone who plays alongside him [he] always brings out the best in them as well."
While many Liverpool fans yearn for the day that 'Big Virg' takes over the armband from the incumbent Jordan Henderson, it is clear that the 27 year-old doesn't need the official title to make his impact well and truly known.
Communication and composure are key elements to being a successful defensive unit.
A game doesn't go by where you don't see the big Dutchman instructing his young teammates in Trent Alexander-Arnold (20), Joe Gomez (21) and Andy Robertson (24) and on occasions either Joe Matip or Dejan Lovren and demanding the best from them.
His presence alone makes the rest of the defence walk taller and the confidence then flows through to the rest of the team.
There is an old adage that leaders are born and not made and Virgil Van Dijk certainly fits into the first category.
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