The No.4 was, once again, a formidable presence at the heart of the Reds defence at Emirates Stadium, where James Milner’s opening goal was equalised by Alexandre Lacazette.
“He is an absolutely phenomenal footballer and he is turning into a really good leader,” said Murphy, speaking on Match of the Day.
“If you look at the backline, it was pretty much perfect for most of the day and Van Dijk was pivotal in that, leading them and talking to them.
“He gave a few rockets out as well, which is important – you need someone to make sure you try to get the best out of those around you.