Liverpool 2-1 Brighton: Three things we learned in Virgil van Dijk Show

Virgil van Dijk can do it all

Every game we’re reminded just how good Virgil van Dijk is. Usually, the big Dutchman is winning aerial duals or breaking up through balls. Or he’s casually shepherding forwards away from goal and into low-danger areas.

He’s easily the best centre back in the game at the moment. And it’s why he’s got a great chance at winning the Ballon d’Or on December 2. His coach seems to think he deserves it.

Against Brighton, Van Dijk had himself one heck of a game.

Not only was he on defensively. He made a team-high five clearances, won a team-high three aerial duals, made seven long balls and was accurate on five. (Stats from Whoscored.com)

It was Virgil van Dijk’s offense game that earned him a man of the match performance. Van Dijk converted twice from Trent Alexander-Arnold corners to score Liverpool’s only two goals in the game.

That’s the first time since July 22, 2014, when playing for Celtic in the Scottish Premier League that Van Dijk recorded a brace in a game.

Everyone knew that Brighton would look to stifle Liverpool’s offense by keeping ten men behind the ball. If they could, Brighton would look for some impact on the counter-attack. Liverpool would need something from set-pieces. Van Dijk delivered.

Just when you think Virgil Van Dijk can’t be more impactful and he comes up with two goals.