How Van Dijk has surprised Liverpool manager Slot

Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool, is surprised by Virgil van Dijk’s quality, who claims the defender is “on another level.”

Van Dijk, 33, is in the last six months of his contract and made his 300th appearance for the Reds in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Ipswich Town.

During his eight years at Anfield, the Dutch centre-half has won the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, the FA Cup and the League Cup twice.

Although his future at the club is uncertain, he has helped Liverpool to reach the top of the Premier League, reach the Champions League’s last 16, and reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals this year.

In an interview with Football Focus, Slot claimed that Gary Lineker, the best defender in the world, “would tell you that Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the world.”

“In Holland, he got a bit more criticism than he gets over here in England. I was surprised by how well-versed he was in passing and how well-versed he was in passing.

I thought, “Wow, this is undoubtedly another level that I’m used to,” right off the bat. However, this was a common practice in England.

Jurgen Klopp was replaced by Slot, who took over as manager of Liverpool last summer. The Reds are currently six points clear of Arsenal in the Premier League with a game in hand.

In their final league-phase match against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, Liverpool are also top of the table and have a game to spare, which means they are also top of the Champions League. They are also top of the table and have a match to play for in the last 16 with seven victories in a row.

Slot acknowledged that the season was moving along more smoothly than he had anticipated.

” You don’t think after 20 games we will have that many points and I wasn’t expecting us to be top with the margin we have, “he added.

” It’s always nice to be up there, but nobody would have expected this. I’m the last person who would have expected]reigning champions Manchester] City to have such a bad run. “

Slot signed a three-year contract with Liverpool last summer, and is already thinking how the club can improve.

He remarked, “Lions should always be fighting for the Champions League, and we should always be doing so.” I’m hoping to maintain the club’s status there.

“I’m aware that some people have questions about our performance in the summer and now in the winter,” she said. There’s a reason for that – because we’re happy with the squad.

In his playing days, Slot scored goals for the attacking midfielder FC Zwolle, twice advancing from the Dutch second division to the Eredivisie, and also participating in the Uefa Cup with NAC Breda.

But a route into coaching was a natural progression for Slot, who managed Dutch sides Cambuur, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, where he won the league title, before moving to Liverpool.

” I don’t think anyone that played with me is surprised I’ve become a manager, “he added.

It wasn’t long before I realized that I wanted to work in management or coaching for as long as I could.

He would frequently show his players from Liverpool during their Premier League winning season of 2019-20, especially during their performances while he was still a player in the Netherlands.

How do his current squad’s playing abilities compare to those of his team?

” It’s a bit hard to be in this office in Liverpool, all these players talking about my own playing career, “he laughed”. I always make the joke that I wasn’t that fast. Some people referred to me as slow.

“Normally if you’re slow, you’re good and keep on running. But I wasn’t good at keeping on running either. However, if I have to explain something that I didn’t know, it’s the right pass [speed] and the right direction.

Slot’s family’s continued presence in the Netherlands has been a challenge.

” That is hard, “he admitted”. The good thing is that it’s only an hour flight.

“The kids attend school and are studying.” However, they have been a lot of work, particularly during the first half of the season when there have been many international breaks.

“For me right now is the most challenging time.” There is no break in England after November until March, which makes it a little harder because you don’t see them as often as you want to.