Didi Hamann has a deserved reputation for criticising Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool players.
In the past, he’s claimed he’d prefer to work for Jose Mourinho than his countryman [Express], while stating our captain Jordan Henderson isn’t good enough [Star].
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But he’s got a lot of time for our superstar centre-back Virgil van Dijk, who he has backed to keep Romelu Lukaku quiet tomorrow lunchtime.
Liverpool take on Manchester United at Old Trafford in one of the biggest games of the season, with the Dutchman set to start at the back for us, with the Belgian our rival’s focal point.
“Yes, I think he will [keep Lukaku quiet],” Hamann told Tag Heuer, cited in the Sport Review.
“He is probably as tall as him, think he’s probably as quick as him, and I don’t think Van Dijk minds a physical challenge. You know you can never keep him out the game for 90 minutes Lukaku, because he is just too powerful and too quick and too strong for that.
“But I think Van Dijk will stand up to that challenge. The less service you give Lukaku, or the less you can stop the people giving service to Lukaku the better.”
Hamann’s spot on in his analysis of our Dutchman, who looks better every time he pulls on a red shirt.
The combination of power and composure in a centre-back is frightening, in truth – and we’re not sure we’d swap him for anyone in the league.
Tomorrow though will be his biggest test since his world record move.