'Are you telling me Virgil van Dijk couldn't beat anybody up physically? Even Drogba?': Liverpool great Steve Nicol dismisses Michael Ballack's claim that the Dutch centre-back is 'LUCKY' not to be playing in his era of Premier League strikers

Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has disputed claims from Michael Ballack that Virgil van Dijk is 'lucky' to be considered one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

Former Chelsea midfielder Ballack claimed the Dutchman did not have to come up against some of the best strikers the English top-flight saw during his era.

He said: 'Virgil van Dijk is very lucky to play in an era where there is no [Didier] Drogba, [Frank] Lampard, Alan Shearer, [Thierry] Henry, [Wayne] Rooney, [Robin] Van Persie, [Carlos] Tevez, [Emmanuel] Adebayor and Diego Costa in the Premier League.