James Collins doesn’t believe there is a better centre-back in world football than Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
The former West Ham United defender offered the glowing review of Van Dijk ahead of his involvement in the Netherlands’ UEFA Nations League defeat to France.
Didier Deschamps’ world champions notably included Raphaël Varane, who undoubtedly stakes a claim as one of the top centre-halves along with Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos.
Such high praise for the world’s most expensive defender is testament to his stunning start to the season for Liverpool, which has seen him play an instrumental role in his side’s four-game winning run in the Premier League.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Collins said: “I think he’s the best centre-back in the world.”
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Van Dijk showcased his world class expertise at one point during the match, confronting the blistering pace of Kylian Mbappe in an intriguing one-on-one matchup.
The 27-year-old resisted the temptation to jump in on the Paris Saint-Germain star, as so many defenders foolishly did at the World Cup, and instead trusted his judgement to jockey the teenager and make an expertly-timed block.
Liverpool’s record signing has been outstanding since signing for the club in January, making a monumental impact to the defensive improvement of Jurgen Klopp’s side.
He has contributed towards not only eradicating costly mistakes, but also served as a formidable answer to the Reds’ set-piece frailties.