Virgil van Dijk could “beat anybody up physically”, says Steve Nicol, with the former Liverpool defender left baffled by claims from ex-Chelsea star Michael Ballack that the Dutch centre-half is “lucky” to have avoided the era of Didier Drogba, Alan Shearer and Co.
A talismanic presence at Anfield is widely considered to be the finest exponent of his chosen position on the planet.
Van Dijk has come into Ballon d’Or contention and helped those at Anfield to challenge for major honours at home and abroad.
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Some have suggested that he is the best defender the Premier League has ever seen, but Ballack feels the Netherlands international is made to look better by the calibre of his opposition.