Gary Pallister: Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool's Key to Title Challenge

Ex-Man Utd defender Gary Pallister believes Virgil van Dijk is bringing Liverpool back to title-contending form in the Premier League.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Pallister believes that the key reason for Liverpool's renewed Premier League title challenge is Virgil van Dijk's performance.

After transitioning from Jurgen Klopp to Arne Slot, Liverpool continues to display impressive form, winning nine of their first eleven Premier League matches. This has placed the team at the top of the table, leading defending champions Manchester City by five points and moving nine clear of Arsenal.

The change of managers has been seamless, and Pallister notes that Slot has achieved a perfect balance within the team.

“Liverpool currently has the perfect balance, which is hard to find in any team,” he said. “You have players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose greatest talent is not defending, but his extraordinary vision and passing ability. Then there's Mohamed Salah, who keeps finding the back of the net, affirming the team's current balance. However, it’s a strong defense that always assures you that one goal can be enough for victory.

Thinking back to Premier League-winning teams, like George Graham's Arsenal with their solid back line, those 1-0 wins were possible due to their rock-solid defense.

With a reliable defensive lineup and confident offensive play, Liverpool's defense remains strong. Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate can handle one-on-one situations, allowing for a more aggressive forward push. Their performance is a significant reason for their current top position in the standings.

Pallister believes Van Dijk is among the greatest defenders in Premier League history. He adds, “After the cruciate ligament injury, which initially seemed challenging, Van Dijk has returned to top form, as he was in his first two years at Liverpool. He's comparable to players like Tony Adams, John Terry, and Vincent Kompany.

Although hard to admit, he is back to his best form in a very strong Liverpool team, and I believe he is the reason they're once again resembling a Premier League-winning side.”