Not only that, but a lot of defenders - not matter how good they are - take a bit of time to settle into their new surroundings & team system. Evra & Vidic are a couple of examples.
Virgil van Dijk | Performances
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Not only that, but a lot of defenders - not matter how good they are - take a bit of time to settle into their new surroundings & team system. Evra & Vidic are a couple of examples.
I think it's hard to criticise him. He's come in in the difficult January window and immediately made them more resilient at the back. Slotted right in as the leader in their defense. Money well spent tbh.
Wouldn’t say he is prticularly great at passing the ball? He is a tall and heavy player, great at winning headers and avoiding danger from set-pieces. That’s about it
Not having Moreno also helps tremendously.
Have to be impartial in any assessment - he's improved Liverpool a lot since he signed. I think our game highlights that their defense can still be targeted but they're a lot more solid than previously.
Plenty of CBs who are good on the ball and solid defensively. This bloke is one of them. Rio Ferdinand a classic example at United. What doesn't exist is CBs who never make any mistakes at all. That's a pipe dream.
Well he makes a lot of passes and keeps the ball and can go past a player. I think thats what most people want from a "ball playing CB"? Just comfort and assurance that he's not going to lose the ball. CBs who do much more than that are extremely few and far between
Rio? Lucio? Both were brilliant but in our league VVD is the best although Maguire for me is very underrated where as Stones is the opposite and well overrated imo. I hope we sign Maguire as if Liverpool buy Maguire to partner VVD and buy as expected a GK and defensive midfielder/play maker then they are looking very very strong and well equipped to challenge for a title.
I mean current players who we or someone else could sign. Rio was obviously great in his day, but isnt available right now. Lucio had his ups and downs. Sublime ability on the ball but his defending wasnt always the best, but he definitely had a couple of seasons where he was doing extremely well in that regard too.
I can't think of many CBs right now who stand out with the ball and also do a great job defending. I can think of plenty that stand out on the ball but aren't great defensively though.
Alderweireld is both good on the ball and defensively strong. He has been the best in the league for the past few years.
Definitely agree with this. I used to hate conceding corners but it’s not something I give a second thought to now.
He’s just a bit lazy on the ball at times but I’m so glad we signed him.
@Ekeke i agree my friend I was just reminiscing about Rio and Lucio as they were favourites of mine. But you’re correct but the big fella Maguire is a must for me.
Because once again people have unrealistic standards of what is great defending for a CB.
I don't know what we saw in lindelof and passed on maguire
I’m not a huge fan of Maguire. I think it’s another case of being English and therefore over rated.
His ability on the ball
He's been a straight up "missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle" for us. Can't wait to see how he will look after a full pre-season under klopp (and hopefully, a new partner next to him).
Not really. I think Smalling does a great job. These ball playing CBs do worse. Better players sure but if I've got 2 slots for a CB, 1 of them is going to be someone who specializes in defending, not someone with the qualities of a CM
For a top side you are going to often have matches where you are not going to do a ton of "defending" so it makes more sense to have CBs who can help break lines.
When you go through Klopp’s signings I don’t think there’s any I’d put under the hopeless bracket. Solanke hasn’t really had the minutes and the rest have been fairly good or at worst ok signings.
Klavan was probably the worst of the lot and he cost hardly anything.
I hope we keep a decent amount of money aside for a CB to go along side Van Dijk in the summer.
The transfer committee got their act together.
To be fair to Rodgers he did sign some decent players (Can, Firmino, Milner, Clyne) but he didn’t always know how best to use them.
Against weak opposition sure. Against Champions League quality opposition they'll have attacking players to punish you for it.
He's been good for them, physical attributes aside I think he's a good character, a bit of a leader.
He is a very good defender, and would have liked if he had have come here.
Solanke has had enough minutes for a decent player to show something. He is only young but looks more like a championship player.
Like Firmino punished otamendi.
Based on this season, maguire is clearly the better player. He is English, helps in home quota. He can defend too. He can be a threat at set pieces. He cost half the amount. Lindelof has shown nothing worthy of note this season. He might turn out a good buy eventually but passing on maguire seems a mistake now.
Hindsight is a good thing
I missed this last night. 
I like him even more now.
I like him even more now.
Does everything well apart from finishing. Hopefully it's just a case of gets one and has a bit of a breakout.
I missed this last night.
I like him even more now.
love it
Not sure he's the best by a mile (I think Alderweireld is pretty similar level), but I agree it was a missed trick.
We should of got him when he was at Celtic. The talent was obvious.
Like Mane and Salah. Liverpool have got a lot of key signings right in recent times. Firmino was another very good addition from sometime back.
Or maybe they have a coach who is getting most out of their players. I believe they are all good players but Klopp's system makes them look lot better. For me he is the best attacking coach.
Haven't seen Liverpiil panic and capitulate since VVD settled in. I don't think it's a coincidence that Lovren and Karius have been looking solid since.
I am not sure he does much that well. He looks 'decent' at everything, but at a level just below what you need to make any sort of impact at this level.
It was, but the thread about VVD at that time spurred the usual responses of "joke league" and words to that effect, as well as the logic of him not playing for the NT at that time, so he mustn't be that good. Could have got him for chump change. For the cost, it was probably worth the risk.
I saw him play at Pittodrie against Aberdeen, and he had big Adam Rooney just bouncing off him. I think I burned more calories in the stand than he did on the pitch. He just took the piss. When you're that comfortably better than the rest, it's clear that you're ready to step up. Wanyama was the same, miles above the rest and made it look easy.
Spot on and the same for Tierney now.
Contradiction anyone?
Why is that a contradiction? Because I think he’s the best centre back in the league just not quite worth £75m though, are you saying there are a few central defenders in the league worth more? Failing that could you explain more as I’m completely baffled at your post.