On Sunday, one particular media knave made a wisecrack about Erling Haaland’s speedy exit from Anfield’s post-match mixed zone.
As the Manchester City striker ran through at velocity, head bowed, unwilling to stop and discuss the exciting tie he had just played in, it was argued that it was the striker’s sharpest turn of pace all day.
Some found the one-liner amusing, but there was some truth to it, given Virgil van Dijk and Jarell Quansah’s excellent shackling of arguably the world’s best frontman at Anfield. That could have been part of the discourse had the City man paused to talk.
Haaland’s only goal at Anfield is a back-post tap-in he scored for Red Bull Salzburg in a 4-3 win for Liverpool in October 2019, and while he has only appeared twice for City at the venue they dislike the most in English football – only one behind-closed-doors win in over 20 years – the Norway international once again looked a pale imitation of the unstoppable goal machine who usually gets his name on the scoresheet in some way.
If the only complaint leveled at Haaland is that he is occasionally anonymous in larger games where a more significant contribution than simply providing the finishing touch is required, this may be detrimental to the centre-backs tasked with stopping him.
Certainly in the case of Van Dijk, who was immaculate once more in an unusual back five, establishing himself as Jurgen Klopp’s only recognised ‘first choice’. The first-half opportunity for Haaland to turn and run at a player nine years his older was a fantastic piece of play in a game that held the attention all day.
For a brief period, the unstoppable force collided with the immovable object, and the opportunity ended with Van Dijk shepherding Haaland just wide enough for Kelleher to easily grab his strike. In a game where the City No.9 had only 22 touches, about a fourth of them were used in his futile dash towards goal during that phase.
Given that Van Dijk was asked to captain a back four that included a backup goalkeeper in Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Gomez in only his third favourite position of left-back, and the inexperienced duo of Quansah and Conor Bradley on the right, there is a case to be made that this was one of the No.4’s best performances during his entire time with the Reds. Especially considering Liverpool’s high-line strategy throughout the game against the treble-hunting current English and European champions.
The statistics against the most feared striker of his generation demonstrate why such allegations are not always exaggerated. The skipper won all of his aerial duels, completing 77 of his 79 passes, including many raking, signature diagonals to the right flank, and denying the visitors with two last-man tackles.
He won possession five times in total and won five out of eight duels. A superbly timed challenge to deny Phil Foden a counter-attack on the halfway line was celebrated as a goal, and one expert header from under his own crossbar, with Haaland lurking, was a crucial intervention.
“The great centre-backs if you sort of look at the Premier League era, Tony Adams, John Terry, these types of figures for their clubs (Arsenal and Chelsea) and that is what Virgil van Dijk is for Liverpool; the great centre-backs don’t just play their own game, you can control a whole back four,” Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool player, told Sky Sports following the conclusion of the match.
“When you look at Liverpool’s back four for this game, everyone in the stadium is thinking, ‘Oooh, it’s Manchester City, De Bruyne, and Haaland.'” Even if Quansah was excellent and brilliant, he may focus on his own game. That is enough for him given who he is up against and his youth. Virgil van Dijk was named Man of the Match due to his exceptional defensive skills.I was speaking with the fellas (Sky Sports pundits) during the game, and [Van Dijk] is also up against Haaland. Haaland is the best centre forward in the world. For me, Virgil van Dijk is right up there in terms of centre-backs, and I made a joke off-air that I don’t know if you’ll agree with, but I believe Van Dijk is a better centre-back than Haaland is a striker. That is how much I regard Van Dijk; I believe he is truly amazing.”
Van Dijk has embraced his official status as Liverpool’s on-field leader this season, and Klopp’s decision to give the defender the captain’s armband following Jordan Henderson’s departure was perhaps his first smart decision of the season.
It has helped squeeze even more out of the centre-back’s performances, and in the race to be named Premier League Player of the Season, Van Dijk’s claims cannot be dismissed, especially for defenders, who are rarely as revered as their offensive counterparts.
“Like I’ve said many times in recent weeks, we just have to enjoy the ride,” Van Dijk said following Sunday’s draw, which brought them level on points with new league leaders Arsenal. “I told the boys that if you go back a year, you can see where we were, the problems we had, the ups and downs, the lack of consistency, and where we are today.
“It’s something we don’t take for granted because sometimes in life, in football these things happen and I want to make sure we enjoy this as well, and I think [in the] second half we certainly did.”
Returning to his best? It’s difficult to argue that he is not presently. Simply ask Haaland.
