Salah and Van Dijk’s continued excellence perhaps stands out above the rest as they are both well past their thirties and remain elite players.

Ibrahima Konate hailed Van Dijk by claiming that he is the best centre-back in the world and based on the terrific season the Dutchman is having once again, it would be difficult to argue with the Frenchman’s claim.

As league leaders Liverpool have conceded the least number of goals in the Premier League (21) this season, Van Dijk, who instantly wowed Arne Slot at Anfield is a vital reason behind his side’s defensive solidity so far.

Van Dijk’s contract situation has not impacted his game whatsoever and ever since being handed the armband last season, the former Southampton colossus has been consistently brilliant after a surprise decline in form during the 2022/2023 campaign.

Van Dijk is not interested in leaving Liverpool and his commitment on the pitch is for all to see. Michael Dawson had his say on Van Dijk as well and in the former Tottenham Hotspur defender’s opinion, the Reds skipper is the greatest centre-back to have ever played on English shores.

Dawson stated on Sky Sports News: “People will always have the debate and my argument in my defence is that he could play with anyone beside him and normally, as a centre-half or anywhere on the pitch, you make partnerships, you make relationships. Rio Ferdinand and [Nemanja] Vidic, Vidic was the brave one, he put his head where it hurts, Rio was the elegant one, could drive bring the ball out from the back. John Terry and [Ricardo] Carvalho, Virgil van Dijk has got everything, sprint, head, tackle, could pass, for me, he’s just the best.”

“I put him at the top, I do, you could put Jaap Staam in there, you talk about Gabriel [Magalhaes] and [William] Saliba at the minute with the partnership, I put him at the top because he could do everything as an individual, whoever he plays alongside and we talk about [Ibrahima] Konate being so good, we talk about [Jarrell] Quansah coming in, young player, I don’t believe Liverpool would be where they are and won the Champions League in recent years, won the Premier League if they didn’t go and sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton.”

Michael Dawson also highlighted the Champions League winner’s incredible impact on this Liverpool side and claimed that in his absence, none of his teammates seem to look as effective, with Gary Neville comparing Van Dijk to Rodri in terms of his importance to his side previously as well.

“When he’s not there, no one on the pitch is the same. I played with Ledley King, who was unbelievable. And that reliability that you have in a team when they are beside you and when they’re on the pitch and when they’re dictating. And I watched Virgil on Thursday night [against Tottenham] and he’s shouting at people and they’re all like, alright, Virgil is speaking, I listen. The best.”

Van Dijk is a Premier League icon and perhaps many would side with Michael Dawson’s view about his status as the division’s best-ever defender.

Despite playing with the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell and Ledley King, Michael Owen claimed in May 2022 that Van Dijk is the best defender to have ever graced the game.

Owen told BT Sport (now known as TNT Sports): “I think he’s the best centre-half of all time.”

“Probably scored a few more goals [than Rio Ferdinand], not much, we’re talking about the greatest here and as I say, Rio was the best centre-half I ever played with, as a centre-forward, I look at him and think, ‘What do you do against him?’ He’s bigger than everyone, he’s faster than everyone, he’s stronger than everyone, he’s brilliant on the ball, he scores goals, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“The only thing that goes against Van Dijk at the moment and I stress at the moment is his winners medals. He’s only won one league, one Champions League and people like Rio and [Paolo] Maldini and [Franco] Baresi, people like that who you consider the greatest have all got numerous. So, that’s the only thing that goes against him but as a one-off, I look at him and think, how can you get any better than that?”

With Liverpool looking in pole position to win multiple trophies by the end of the season, including the league title, perhaps Van Dijk will start to surpass several former legendary defenders as a superior player.