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Liverpool news: Virgil van Dijk has made one big improvement to Reds ATTACK - pundit
LIVERPOOL centre-back Virgil van Dijk has given the Reds a new way of scoring goals with his towering presence at the back.
Liverpool: Klopp praises Virgil van Dijk after Crystal Palace win
That is according to Sky Sports pundit and former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell.
Van Dijk played a big role in Liverpool’s second goal against Crystal Palace on Monday.
The Dutchman won a header from a Palace corner deep into stoppage time which set Mohamed Salah on his way.
Salah found Sadio Mane and the Senegalese did the rest to seal the 2-0 victory on a stunning counter attack.
You saw it from the goal, the headed clearance started the break for them to score. It wasn’t the usual Liverpool way where they break from the wings
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were full of praise for Van Dijk after the game and gave him the man of the match award.
Sidwell has played against the 27-year-old so knows how influential he can be.
And he believes Van Dijk is the leader Liverpool have been craving at the back.
“I watched it, I watched the after bit when they (Neville and Carragher) were talking,” Sidwell said.
“I knew how good he was, played against him. Absolute giant on the pitch.
“You saw it from the goal, the headed clearance started the break for them to score.
“It wasn’t the usual Liverpool way where they break from the wings.
“It started from the defence and he pushed them up.
Virgil van Dijk praised following Liverpool's West Ham victory
“It’s a commander-in-chief there, he’s there to lead. That’s what they’ve wanted."
Van Dijk has helped Liverpool pick up maximum points from their opening two games of the season.
Jurgen Klopp's side are the only team in the league yet to concede a goal.
Their next test is against Brighton this Saturday (5.30pm).