Bro kept pace with Mbappe, Son, Haaland, etc. AND got the ball of them. Shows you all you need to know. Top defender in his absolute prime. Nobody has that level of speed and defensive awareness and capability than this man in his prime. Jeez what a monster.
@@MrYoungerr It's not even his second best season at liverpool. his best overall rating at liverpool was in 2018/2019 and his best of all was at Southampton.
Might not have the longevity or trophies as other top CBs in history, but his PEAK performance was higher than any others and I genuinely think that’s fact
@@milosilic23I will always hate Pickford for ending the best prime I’ve seen in a cb. He could have easily went down as the best cb ever if it wasn’t for Pickford.
@@naturalmulundu8611 not only do I think that you're not a liverpool fan but I think you're not even a football fan and your ball knowledge comes from reels. Otherwise you wouldn't have made such a stupid comment. Do you realize that you only remember that moment from almost 5 years ago because it only happened once lol. Even perisic did a similar thing to van dijk but it doesn't matter cause it only happens once in a blue moon.
@@barrybarrybannan Serie A was a phenomenal league in AC Milan/Juventus era with the likes of prime Del Piero, Totti, Di Natali, Pirlo, Shevchenko, Nesta, Kaka, Maldini, Gattuso. Even Henry couldn't get enough game time because of the fierce competition back then. But the league fallen almost abruptly, almost stop producing any world-class player after this generation of Milan/Juventus era. Since then Serie A is basically irrelevant, and becomes a league that absorbs star players at the twilight of their career. So I would say VVD and Maldini is one of the best defenders of their time, although fixtures in Italy wasn't as intense as in England.
I seen Maldini, Cannavaro, Ramos and Chiellini play live and they just World Class. But still Van Dijk is still up there and he is just a rare cb with high quality defensive skills that are hard to find this days. He is World Class.
Only Nesta, Baresi & Maldini are only players who I feel are equal with Van Dijk. Ramos & Chiellini while brilliant have major weaknesses. Cannavaro had one of the greatest tournaments ever with Italy (won Ballon Dor based on it) but never felt he was quite the same level as Nesta & Maldini.
I remember the season he came 2nd to Messi in the ballon d'or I think no player had dribbled passed him, or it was an absurd amount of games until someone did. He was a beast and all because of Jordan Pickford with that crazy tackle he did to injure him and he lost his best years in his prime because of it.
Best Centre back I've seen in my lifetime and I've seen Baresi, Stam, Terry, Cannavero, Nesta, Ferdinand etc. Why? Has everything in his game. Literally everything.
@@Ivv93 I'm talking about after this injury he never was the same god gave him that injury because he was just that good did you ever saw PRIME Van Dijk play ?
@@oyunboldboldbaatar5519He lost a lot of pace coz of the long term injury which saw his form dip but he is regaining his confidence, athleticism and his overall ability. Trust me on this: VVD sure has his mojo back!
These are the type of defensive comps I like. Reading the game, 1v1 etc. I feel like every other defending comp video are all slide tackles. These are more satisfying to me.
That's because this man's technique is on another level. I've never seen any other defender with so much technique in 1v1 situations in my lifetime. Other defenders have to go in for sliding tackles to win. This guy just doesn't.
@@Crimsonvortexmax I think you haven't because Maldini, Nesta etc were legendary defenders but their main strength was tackling. Van dijk's main strength is his technique. He doesn't need to go in for a tackle.
I will never forgive what Pickford did to him. Such a shame this amazing form did not continue. He is still very good now but back then he was simply great
This version of Van Dijk is the best defender in history. No other defender that’s ever lived can reach this level. You will never see someone as good again. Absolute 🐐.
I love it, that non of the attackers complain for a foul or anything. They just know and feel that its proper defending and stand-up directly after getting tackled by van Dijk.
Shows you whats really important for a center back. Not necessarily winning the ball every time, but just disrupting the flow of the attacker and being really, really physical and fast
Best defensive prime season and 1v1 cb of all time Edit: For all the guys debating this. VVD is not the greatest defender of all time. It's just he has the greatest statistical season in 1v1 defensive moments. People are too biased to accept this. Maldini/Baresi/Beckenbauer>VVD.
Big , fast powerful... but sorry, I've never seen a guy play a another player *before* the ball than this guy. A serial fouler - how did he get away with this BS , lol.
I still hear people say van dijk is overrated and was overrated (especially when he was down in form) but let’s not forget the fact that they was literally tracking who “passed van dijk one on one” because he made 0 mistakes for a whole season, was basically the revelation of liverpool when he joined they got that stability and let’s pls not forget that he was 2nd place in the ballon d’or, would that have been anybody else with the same statistics as Messi, Van Dijk would have won it but we all know it’s a popularity competition and there’s nobody more popular than Leo Messi. Absolute fucking unit, beast. Strong, pacey, balanced, swift, great long ball. Man marker, never tackles when he doesn’t have to. Pure dominance
Best I've ever seen when he was at this level, absolutely unfair combination of speed, strength, and aerial dominance, to go with his intelligence and leadership qualities while also being as calm as you could ever wish a defender to be, a key factor in Liverpool being able to bypass teams press with his long passing, impossible to dribble past (wasn't it like a whole season he went through without it happening, possibly even a year?) while hardly ever making a high profile mistake. Have found it genuinely insulting to see him compared unfavourably to the likes of Vidic and Terry who had such glaring weaknesses and were so limited by comparison despite having legendary careers. He, Stam and Ferdinand are the standout defenders of the PL era for me. He's back somewhere close to this level now tbf, 97th percentile for aerial duels, hasn't been dribbled past in the league all season and is winning basically all his ground duels too. Utterly incredible player.
Being a good defender isnt just about getting the ball back by a tackle. You need the ability mark multiple players at once, pressure players to shoot from hard angles and make them miss and ect. Van dijk has it all
Van Dijk is back to his best, in other words, he is back to being Prime van Dijk. He is the best CB in the league this season and arguably the best in the world again.
I’d say he’s changed his game doesn’t rely on pace as much reads the game better and is more aggressive but he’s not back to his best that’s impossible but he’s still the best itw
the fact that this man has only been dribbled past 50 times at the age of 34, even facing opponents like messi and prime ronaldo, is unbelievable. he also has a great character if you watch videos from Liverpool.
Attackers would fear going 1v1 with him. He carried such an aura with him around that time. Players would end up dribbling wide to the touch line or looking for support rather than taking him on.
Van dijk best defender in the whole world even if he had faults in this Arsenal game, one thing I know is that every player does mistakes stay strong big VVD🙏🙏
@@mjmjmccall1684 mate watch his highlights 2018/18 and 19/20 vs his highlights now he started to get slower last season anyone that watches him week in week out will tell you
Melhor época defenciva da historia do futebol, ele era dominante e destruiu todos melhores atacantes daquela época, este video fala por si. Se não fosse o clientelismo ele teria ganho a bola de ouro
The way he just kind of bounces on his feet while going full stride at a pace already faster than 90% of other players is just wild. The sheer athleticism to change direction and make finesse touches with that much momentum.
Actually Messi is one of the only few player out of maybe some 5,6 people who dribbled past Prime Vvd, and i think he's back in his prime this season again. One of the best Cb of this decade alongside Ramos Pepe Silva Godin etc.
Unreal...I have watched Phil Thompson, then Alan Hansen/Mark Lawrenson twin act, followed by Sami Hyypia masterclass...but I have never seen a player like Van Dijk having so much impact transforming our team. Our Captain...and imo a generational player with as much impact as a Dalglish, Souness, Gerrard, arguably Suarez and Mo have on our team over the years
Thanks to that assault by Pickford who calls himself a footballer has somewhat destroyed van dijk career otherwise he would have been the best defender premier league has ever seen
Bro kept pace with Mbappe, Son, Haaland, etc. AND got the ball of them. Shows you all you need to know. Top defender in his absolute prime. Nobody has that level of speed and defensive awareness and capability than this man in his prime. Jeez what a monster.
shortest prime ever. xD
@@Kilah85still goes on till today. He was injured but he is back.
By stats alone this season he is the best defender in the epl so?
@@MrYoungerr It's not even his second best season at liverpool. his best overall rating at liverpool was in 2018/2019 and his best of all was at Southampton.
And Traore!
@@Kilah85 You're talking shit about VVD whilst watching a video of his highlights lmao
Might not have the longevity or trophies as other top CBs in history, but his PEAK performance was higher than any others and I genuinely think that’s fact
I believe that he would have kept going if not for the knee injury
@@milosilic23you can see the different, before the injury he does tackle. right now, he does not tackle anymore
1000%
@@milosilic23I will always hate Pickford for ending the best prime I’ve seen in a cb. He could have easily went down as the best cb ever if it wasn’t for Pickford.
I would only put Prime Maldini Nesta Puyol Cannavaro over Prime Van Dijk
2019 van dijk was the most dominant defender I've seen in my lifetime. It was just impossible to dribble past him
In 2019 ? Ask hwang hi Chang..... just type hwang hi chang vs van dijk .... destroyed vvd and I am a Liverpool fan. ...
@@naturalmulundu8611 not only do I think that you're not a liverpool fan but I think you're not even a football fan and your ball knowledge comes from reels. Otherwise you wouldn't have made such a stupid comment. Do you realize that you only remember that moment from almost 5 years ago because it only happened once lol. Even perisic did a similar thing to van dijk but it doesn't matter cause it only happens once in a blue moon.
@@ssaad550 u said in 2018 ...it was impossible to dribble past vvd .... vvd was always human ....but still the best defender ....
@@naturalmulundu8611 you're not very smart are you? Impossible means figuratively.
Also.... why.... are... typing...like...this...
@@ssaad550 lolol .... u got yourself into the mess of saying impossible ... now you getting angry because I pointed out a fact ... hahahahahahaha
Highest peak skill of a defender ever. Other defenders may have better legacy, but this guy, in terms of peak skill - untouchable, end of story.
agreed much. but too many haters out there rofl
Heard of maldini?
@@barrybarrybannan not sure but in his peak no one can dribbling pass van dijk around 50+ games in a row even messi
@@barrybarrybannan Serie A was a phenomenal league in AC Milan/Juventus era with the likes of prime Del Piero, Totti, Di Natali, Pirlo, Shevchenko, Nesta, Kaka, Maldini, Gattuso. Even Henry couldn't get enough game time because of the fierce competition back then. But the league fallen almost abruptly, almost stop producing any world-class player after this generation of Milan/Juventus era. Since then Serie A is basically irrelevant, and becomes a league that absorbs star players at the twilight of their career. So I would say VVD and Maldini is one of the best defenders of their time, although fixtures in Italy wasn't as intense as in England.
Ok buddy 1990s Maldini 2006 Cannavaro?
On top of defensive technique, some of the best distribution you’ll see from any CB
I seen Maldini, Cannavaro, Ramos and Chiellini play live and they just World Class. But still Van Dijk is still up there and he is just a rare cb with high quality defensive skills that are hard to find this days. He is World Class.
true
VVD is better than them. He is modern CB, other than defend, he can build up, give assist and accurate long pass.
Only Nesta, Baresi & Maldini are only players who I feel are equal with Van Dijk.
Ramos & Chiellini while brilliant have major weaknesses. Cannavaro had one of the greatest tournaments ever with Italy (won Ballon Dor based on it) but never felt he was quite the same level as Nesta & Maldini.
@@louisdavies8050vidic chiellini ramos maldini cannavaro nesta baresi terry ferdinand are better than the 1 season wonder
@@louisdavies8050your level of delusion is laughable, no one can take such a ridiculous statement seriously!
I remember the season he came 2nd to Messi in the ballon d'or I think no player had dribbled passed him, or it was an absurd amount of games until someone did. He was a beast and all because of Jordan Pickford with that crazy tackle he did to injure him and he lost his best years in his prime because of it.
By the way pigford never win anything...😂
you can see the different, before the injury he does tackle. right now, he does not tackle anymore
@@julianus2957 yeah he is very timid to go into tackles still hey. Im sure its a mental thing from the injury.
@@julianus2957he’s lost his pace that’s the problem he doesn’t wanna get ran past but he’s been one of the best itw this season
He should have won it back than.
Best Centre back I've seen in my lifetime and I've seen Baresi, Stam, Terry, Cannavero, Nesta, Ferdinand etc. Why? Has everything in his game. Literally everything.
God had to patch this guy by hugging him a career ending injury
@@AdsaFootHe’s healthy and playing 💀
@@Ivv93 I'm talking about after this injury he never was the same god gave him that injury because he was just that good did you ever saw PRIME Van Dijk play ?
@@AdsaFoot Please google what a career-ending injury means lmfaoo
I'd edge JT
He was something else 🔥
Was ?
@@Louis-o6e he still good now but 2019 van dijk was something else 😇
VVD ages like a fine wine, and 23/24 i proving to be a splendid season.
And he’s almost back to his best
I don't quite agree. VVD at the moment is only the best centre back in the world. At his best, he was 2x better.
@@cgopie1only?
He must be very slow cause he's still almost coming to his best😂
@@dilanplabanbaruah4694 He is back to his best, check the stats, he is unreal.
i blame pickford for that ACL injury
@@cgopie1
No version of Ramos was ever this dominant defensively.
Chill
Ramos is careless man.
He was
Ramos is shit, he can only do dirty shit nothing else
praise van diak and make fun of other player is not cool at all.
He is still in his prime. He just makes mistakes now and then unlike 2018-20 VVD who was flawless week in week out
He made mistakes but he had his godly pace to make up for it. Now that he’s slower, he can’t correct those same mistakes.
...so not in his prime then...
@@teekay851 😂
that injury from Pickford slow him down a bit but he seem to be back to top form now
@@oyunboldboldbaatar5519He lost a lot of pace coz of the long term injury which saw his form dip but he is regaining his confidence, athleticism and his overall ability. Trust me on this: VVD sure has his mojo back!
his patience and timing on one on one defending is amazing.
He IS IN PRIME now again!
Best Def of the world
no, never been the same after the injury, literally just got beat 1v1 by a random player from Turkey in Euros.
Sterling coming in just like a chicken at 2:12 🤣🤣🤣🤣
2:57 Van Dijk bu harika savunmanın ardından dizleri üstünde kayarak kendini kutluyor.🎉😂
These are the type of defensive comps I like. Reading the game, 1v1 etc. I feel like every other defending comp video are all slide tackles. These are more satisfying to me.
That's because this man's technique is on another level. I've never seen any other defender with so much technique in 1v1 situations in my lifetime. Other defenders have to go in for sliding tackles to win. This guy just doesn't.
Very true. VVD rarely slides.@@ssaad550
Van dijk best defender ever in his prime even kompany called him the greatest defender in the premier league during his prime
I don't think U guys have watched maldini,NESTA,cannavaro,beckanbeyeur yet have U lol.
@@Crimsonvortexmax I think you haven't because Maldini, Nesta etc were legendary defenders but their main strength was tackling. Van dijk's main strength is his technique. He doesn't need to go in for a tackle.
I fucking hate Pickford for the tackle that put vvd on the sidelines
I will never forgive what Pickford did to him. Such a shame this amazing form did not continue. He is still very good now but back then he was simply great
18-19 Van Dijk never allowed 1 on 1 dribble. More than beast
1:56 i like how he smiles at kante, 99% of defenders would fall for kante’s feint/ fake kick but he read him all the day just brilliant.
This version of Van Dijk is the best defender in history. No other defender that’s ever lived can reach this level.
You will never see someone as good again. Absolute 🐐.
Nah, maldini is much better
Lol lmao even
@@anticomunistul31032VVD better than Malidini
@@Dream_League_papay in your dreams
@@anticomunistul31032 qo'toqni yebsan
I love it, that non of the attackers complain for a foul or anything. They just know and feel that its proper defending and stand-up directly after getting tackled by van Dijk.
i love watching the best cb of all time play ❤
Shows you whats really important for a center back. Not necessarily winning the ball every time, but just disrupting the flow of the attacker and being really, really physical and fast
Up there with Nesta & Maldini as the best 3 CBs I’ve ever seen.
Maldini isn’t pure cb
@@Flamingo.3760 Fair point. Could replace him with Baresi then.
Best defender of modern football vvd
Sergio Ramos
@IlovemygirlsYou're delusional united fan boy
@Ilovemygirlstell me ur top 50
@Ilovemygirls 🤣 zero ball knowldege
@@Ilovemygirlsur so fxcking dumb mate. Get ur ball knowledge up
Let’s not forget that he’s back to his best.
He is back to peak levels again. Monster.
Best defensive prime season and 1v1 cb of all time
Edit: For all the guys debating this. VVD is not the greatest defender of all time. It's just he has the greatest statistical season in 1v1 defensive moments. People are too biased to accept this. Maldini/Baresi/Beckenbauer>VVD.
Not a chance it’s above maldinis or baresi
@@gettjerry2362shut up he is the best just maldini and baresi is past time
Big , fast powerful... but sorry, I've never seen a guy play a another player *before* the ball than this guy. A serial fouler - how did he get away with this BS , lol.
@@gettjerry2362he is in his prime, never seen anything like him
ur to young to even see them two play @@gettjerry2362
It’s amazing. Virgil never relied on slide tackles but when he had to he executed them cleanly, unlike some overrated former Madrid centre backs
Are you referring to the one who wore number 4 when he played for VARdrid? 👀
@@KaiBane i am
and the one that wore number three two
@@KaiBane Facts, Ramos is really overrated. Red card merchant
I LOVE YOU HAHAHAHAAHAHAH
I still hear people say van dijk is overrated and was overrated (especially when he was down in form) but let’s not forget the fact that they was literally tracking who “passed van dijk one on one” because he made 0 mistakes for a whole season, was basically the revelation of liverpool when he joined they got that stability and let’s pls not forget that he was 2nd place in the ballon d’or, would that have been anybody else with the same statistics as Messi, Van Dijk would have won it but we all know it’s a popularity competition and there’s nobody more popular than Leo Messi.
Absolute fucking unit, beast. Strong, pacey, balanced, swift, great long ball. Man marker, never tackles when he doesn’t have to. Pure dominance
Hes the best
Van Dijk is one of the few defenders who looked confident defending Messi, Mbappe, Håland, etc.
Deserved a ballondor
Best I've ever seen when he was at this level, absolutely unfair combination of speed, strength, and aerial dominance, to go with his intelligence and leadership qualities while also being as calm as you could ever wish a defender to be, a key factor in Liverpool being able to bypass teams press with his long passing, impossible to dribble past (wasn't it like a whole season he went through without it happening, possibly even a year?) while hardly ever making a high profile mistake. Have found it genuinely insulting to see him compared unfavourably to the likes of Vidic and Terry who had such glaring weaknesses and were so limited by comparison despite having legendary careers. He, Stam and Ferdinand are the standout defenders of the PL era for me.
He's back somewhere close to this level now tbf, 97th percentile for aerial duels, hasn't been dribbled past in the league all season and is winning basically all his ground duels too.
Utterly incredible player.
Individually he’s best defender I’ve ever seen
❤If Not that Injury, he VVD show would have lasted longer. Man is a colossus, nearly won D" Or
Strength, speed and HE NEVER GOES TO THE GROUND!
really good preformance!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥
I think Michael Owen even said Van Dijk, if you just look at just one season when he's at his peak, he's the best defender ever.
Till this date he’s only lost 1 game at Anfield…. Crazy stat
Being a good defender isnt just about getting the ball back by a tackle. You need the ability mark multiple players at once, pressure players to shoot from hard angles and make them miss and ect. Van dijk has it all
Van Dijk is back to his best, in other words, he is back to being Prime van Dijk. He is the best CB in the league this season and arguably the best in the world again.
I’d say he’s changed his game doesn’t rely on pace as much reads the game better and is more aggressive but he’s not back to his best that’s impossible but he’s still the best itw
the fact that this man has only been dribbled past 50 times at the age of 34, even facing opponents like messi and prime ronaldo, is unbelievable. he also has a great character if you watch videos from Liverpool.
Watching van dijk is fun especially Argentina vs Netherlands that was fun
Messi destroyed that clown
He is back into his prime know-2023 2024
Prime Van Dijk - The Best Defender of history 1000% 🔥🔥🔥
The best. Simply.
the timing of this beast is top norch.. but the shoulder technic is underated..
One of my favorite defenders👍
The best club of England
Attackers would fear going 1v1 with him. He carried such an aura with him around that time. Players would end up dribbling wide to the touch line or looking for support rather than taking him on.
Van djik ragdolling strikers left and right, a sight to behold!! 💯🙌🏿
Van dijk best defender in the whole world even if he had faults in this Arsenal game, one thing I know is that every player does mistakes stay strong big VVD🙏🙏
Pure Class!! YNWA
The fact that he’s lost his pace and changed his game completely this season is what impresses me he’s back up there with the best itw now
He hasn’t lost his pace lol
@@mjmjmccall1684 mate watch his highlights 2018/18 and 19/20 vs his highlights now he started to get slower last season anyone that watches him week in week out will tell you
@@mjmjmccall1684 he clearly did, courtesy of Pickford the dickhead
He’s not that slow
@@cameronbird7215 he used to be as fast as mbappe
he's back to his prime now though
Sterling pressing 2:12 🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽
You know your something else when every time someone dribbles past you it goes viral
Thank you Pickford for destroying someone career
Hes still immensely great
1:44 he tried to push him and ate it hahaha
Esse zagueiro é muito louco. Joga de mais. Eu nunca vi um zagueiro com tanta técnica.
Currently as good as he has ever been.
His technique made him unique,
He knows the opponent next move cause he look into his eyes.
Melhor época defenciva da historia do futebol, ele era dominante e destruiu todos melhores atacantes daquela época, este video fala por si. Se não fosse o clientelismo ele teria ganho a bola de ouro
Prime Van Dijk *is UNREAL
prime?hes still in his early 30's.your 30's as a footballer are your best years.when u really shine.
VVD is crazy. as fast as mbappe!! sheeesh
So physically gifted but also has a very high football iq it’s a shame his prime was very short lived but I’m sure he’ll make it back
This is what you call a pure CB
honestly to show how good he is, he is past his prime but is still amazing
the combination of speed and strength is insane
The way he just kind of bounces on his feet while going full stride at a pace already faster than 90% of other players is just wild. The sheer athleticism to change direction and make finesse touches with that much momentum.
More like prime VD IS unreal!!
Ok even when Messi gets scared of Van Dijk then you know he’s good 😂
Actually Messi is one of the only few player out of maybe some 5,6 people who dribbled past Prime Vvd, and i think he's back in his prime this season again. One of the best Cb of this decade alongside Ramos Pepe Silva Godin etc.
A natural strength that few can match. Would love to have seen prime Drogba vs Prime Van Dijk.
he’s still in his prime wtf
So VVD really does run like that, I thought it was just glitched in fifa/ ea fc
yeay lad . watch live football. not from ig reel 💀
Unreal...I have watched Phil Thompson, then Alan Hansen/Mark Lawrenson twin act, followed by Sami Hyypia masterclass...but I have never seen a player like Van Dijk having so much impact transforming our team. Our Captain...and imo a generational player with as much impact as a Dalglish, Souness, Gerrard, arguably Suarez and Mo have on our team over the years
3:09 blocking that kane shot is nasty.Definitily my favourite
Remains the best...
0:14 wow 😮
Prime van dijk was the better o one of the better prime of a defender, for me top 1 o 2
Most of us fathers recognise ourselves here, playing football with our kids 😁
1:56 that smile🤣
Van Dijk’s prime is still ahead. He will raise the European cup 2024
He didn't rely on offside traps back then, his marking and positioning was better than now.
He is now back baby!!!
Thanks to that assault by Pickford who calls himself a footballer has somewhat destroyed van dijk career otherwise he would have been the best defender premier league has ever seen
He is strong, my captain
I remember the challenge on Son. Bro was JOGGING at like 85% and decided "enough is enough".
I like that VVD always close opportunity just his positioning, it often make attackers to make the worst decision on the field..
Absolute beast!
That revenge tackling against Sterling is personal
He's still prime van dijk
that tackle against neymar he a destroyer
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