Whelan: Liverpool handed ‘huge’ boost after Van Dijk reveal
Virgil van Dijk’s return is “huge” news after Liverpool showed “a different side” against Tottenham last week, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 30-year-old “rock” is one of the Merseyside club’s “best-ever” purchases.
Van Dijk has missed the last three Liverpool fixtures after returning a positive COVID-19 test prior to the game against Newcastle last week (16 December).
As per the Evening Standard (24 December), the Dutchman joins Curtis Jones and Fabinho in returning to full training ahead of the Reds’ trip to Leicester on 28 December.
Whelan suggested Van Dijk was a “big miss” against Spurs last Sunday with Antonio Conte’s side “exploiting” his absence.
“It’s huge. Anyone would miss having Virgil van Dijk in their side,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“He’s the one who gives them that solidity at the back. People play better when he’s alongside them, he brings the best out of them.
“He’s their rock at the back. He talks, he leads – when you’re missing that kind of player, you see a different side. I think that was evident against Tottenham.
“You could see where they were vulnerable straight away – balls in behind. Straight away, Spurs were looking to exploit it.
“He’s been a big miss. Van Dijk is probably one of Liverpool’s best-ever buys bar Mohamed Salah.”
Liverpool made Van Dijk the most expensive defender of all time when they paid a reported £75million for his services in 2018.
The defender has gone on to win the Champions League and Premier League with the Anfield club.
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