The top 10 best Liverpool players of the 2010s

No.1 – Virgil van Dijk

He has been at Anfield less than two years, but few will argue that Virgil van Dijk has been the most important Liverpool player of the decade.

The club were patient to get their man and had to break the British transfer record to do it when van Dijk came from Southampton in January 2018.

Liverpool had the attack. Two seasons of Klopp had proven that. But there were chronic issues at the back. It feels like every game in those first few years was a 4-3.

The Dutchman’s impact was instantaneous; a debut goal at the Kop end to knock out Everton in the FA Cup (come on, that’s script written stuff).

When van Dijk arrived the back four was in transition. Andrew Robertson had just replaced Alberto Moreno at left back. Trent Alexander-Arnold was still learning how to play right back. Dejan Lovren was a liability.

Within six weeks it was one of the best defenses in Europe. Because Virgil van Dijk makes everyone better. He leads, he organizes, he keeps standards at an impeccable level.

The record busting 2018/19 season was built upon an imperious defense – something Reds had not had since Rafa Benitez. They broke clean sheet records and points records and fell just one point shy of the title. However a sixth European Cup eased much of the pain of that loss.

He would have a Ballon d’Or if Lionel Messi wasn’t the best player of all time. The best defender in the world. Probably the best to play for Liverpool. A giant. A legend and hopefully will rake in more trophies in the next decade.

[Profile by David Gate]