Centre back: Virgil van Dijk
It may seem as though Virgil van Dijk has just burst onto the scene, given the hype that has built around the Dutchman over the last 18 months. However, it is easy to forget that he has been playing in the Premier League since 2015, when he signed for Southampton from Celtic. Though he didn't always get his due, it was easy to see that van Dijk was an exceptionally gifted player, and he came to worldwide attention when Liverpool spent 75 million pounds to bring him to Anfield in January 2018.
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He was an instant fan favourite when he scored on his debut with a thumping header against local rivals Everton, in a cup tie. His first six months in Merseyside saw him pick up where he left off with the Saints, putting up an impressive tackle success ratio of 91.4%, and averaging nearly 2 interceptions a game while also winning 73% of his aerial duels, as Liverpool went all the way to the Champions League final, only to be defeated by Real Madrid.
His numbers would only improve the next season, as Liverpool lost out on the Premier League trophy by just 1 point, but won their sixth Champions League. van Dijk was not dribbled past for the entire season in both competitions, with a tackle success rate of 100%.
However, what has been unique about van Dijk ever since his days at Celtic, and indeed, FC Groningen before that, has been his quality on the ball. He is a supremely accurate passer, as evidenced by his 87.3% pass accuracy over his 4 seasons in the Premier League. His range is also excellent, as he completes over 60% of his 7.7 attempted long balls per game. He also formed a superb defensive partnership with youngster Matthis de Ligt for the Netherlands as they made it to the UEFA Nations League final.
If Liverpool are to win their first title in 31 years, this could well be the season that they need van Dijk to take his game to the next level.
