Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed his surprise at the exceptional quality of captain Virgil van Dijk, praising the defender's abilities in a wide-ranging interview with Gary Lineker for Football Focus.
Van Dijk, who recently marked his 300th appearance for Liverpool in their 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town, has been a cornerstone of the club's success since his arrival. The 33-year-old Dutch defender's achievements include winning the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup, and two League Cup titles during his eight-year tenure at Anfield.
"Everybody here in England would tell you that Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the world," Slot told Lineker. The manager revealed his positive surprise at van Dijk's technical abilities, particularly his skill in playing through the lines, noting that while the defender faced more criticism in Holland, his level of play has been consistently recognized in England.
Under Slot's leadership, Liverpool has flourished this season, currently sitting six points clear of Arsenal at the Premier League summit with a game in hand. The team has also secured early qualification for the Champions League knockout stages, winning seven consecutive matches before their final group game against PSV Eindhoven.
The 46-year-old manager, who signed a three-year contract with Liverpool last summer, acknowledged that the season has exceeded expectations. "You don't think after 20 games we will have that many points and I wasn't expecting us to be top with the margin we have," he admitted, expressing particular surprise at Manchester City's challenging run of form.
Slot, who transitioned from being a goalscoring attacking midfielder to management, brings an interesting perspective to his role. During his playing days with FC Zwolle and NAC Breda, he competed in both Dutch domestic football and the UEFA Cup. His journey to management seemed natural to those who knew him, as he often studied Liverpool's performances, particularly during their 2019-20 Premier League-winning season, to show examples to his players in the Netherlands.
The manager faces personal challenges with his family remaining in the Netherlands, though he maintains regular contact through frequent visits during international breaks. "That is hard," he acknowledged, but suggested the arrangement might have unexpected benefits: "This gives me a lot of time to prepare and do my work so maybe I'm a better coach now than when I was in Holland."
Looking ahead, Slot emphasized Liverpool's ambitions: "Liverpool should always be competing for a league title, we should always be competing for the Champions League." While noting the club's relative quiet in recent transfer windows, he assured fans of future developments, stating, "We're definitely working on strengthening in the summer."
