MANCHESTER CITY legend Vincent Kompany has hailed Virgil van Dijk as the greatest ever Premier League defender.
The Dutchman has transformed Liverpool’s backline since his £75million switch from Southampton in 2018.
Van Dijk’s presence helped Jurgen Klopp’s side win the Champions League while they are also on the brink of lifting the Premier League title for the first time since 1990.
And Kompany, who won ten major pieces of silverware during his time at the Etihad, believes it is for that reason why he can be considered the greatest.
Speaking to Sporf, he said: “I would choose Virgil van Dijk as the best defender in Premier League history.
“It is a strange choice, because he is not in the scene as long as boys like Terry and Ferdinand.
“Those boys have played in the league for a very long time, but the signals that Van Dijk gives in his last few seasons make it so clear that if he had gone to the absolute top before, he would be even further.
“He makes a huge difference to his team.
“A defender never stands alone, it is about his communication with teammates and how you make your team stronger.
“The Liverpool before Van Dijk was there and the Liverpool after Van Dijk was a completely different team. That is why I choose him as the best defender from the Premier League ever.”
Fellow Liverpool ace James Milner has played alongside both defenders during his career and described Van Dijk as more of a “Rolls Royce” player.
When asked to compare the two centre-backs, Milner told Gary Neville on Sky Sports: “They’re both massive players…
“You always look at the spine of any successful team and it starts with the leaders at the back.
“Vinnie, obviously, was an unbelievable player with how he went about his business – but struggled with injuries.
“But the amount of injuries I saw him play through that no-one else would have seen is incredible.
“He’d put his head on the line, unbelievable leader and great captain with so many great qualities.
“Rightly so, one of the greatest defenders to ever play in the Premier League.
“Obviously Virg is a bit different to that, maybe a bit more of Rolls-Royce, if you like.
“He doesn’t seem to make too many tackles as he gets in the right spot and moves the ball away.
“Maybe has a few more diags [diagonal, forward passes] in his locker, too.”
