Heading into this season, many doubted whether Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool would have the necessary defensively solidity to challenge champions Manchester City for the Premier League title.

For all of the firepower they boast in attack, at the back, the Reds simply have not been good enough for years now.

However, the addition of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton last January appears to have changed that, and team-mate Georginio Wijnaldum has been quick to highlight it when speaking about his side this week.

The Breakdown

“I think Virgil has made a difference in the last line because he is a good defender, a big defender. He is an extra man who can defend set-pieces as well,” Wijnaldum told Liverpool’s official club website.

“He is a leader in the last line who not only helps himself with his quality but also the players next to him and so he really helps the team.”

As alluded to by Wijnaldum, at the back, Liverpool have changed drastically thanks to the presence of van Dijk — and for the better.

In the air, the Netherlands captain is so dominant, while on the ground he is so quick to get out and win the ball back.

On top of that, which may not come as a surprise with the former Southampton man being a Dutch centre-half, van Dijk remains calm and composed in possession.

At Manchester City, Aymeric Laporte has been brilliant this season while his team-mate John Stones has also impressed.

But in this moment of time, van Dijk is probably the leading central defender in the Premier League.