Brighton striker Glenn Murray admits Virgil van Dijk is a ‘man-mountain’ to play against in his current form.
The Liverpool defender has forced his way into the conversation surrounding the top centre-backs in world football with an imperious start to the season.
He has been instrumental to the Reds earning 12 clean sheets across all competitions, not to mention the team’s monumental improvement as a defensive unit over the past 12 months.
Murray was granted little room for manoeuvre by the Dutchman when his side were beaten 1-0 at Anfield earlier in the season.
Discussing what it’s like to face him, he told BBC 5 Live Sport: “He’s not too shabby. He’s a man-mountain to start with.”
“He reads the game well and you can just tell he oozes confidence. He’s always organising, getting people into position, pulling some of the younger ones like [Andrew] Robertson and [Trent] Alexander-Arnold next to him.”
“He’s been such a huge signing for them.”
"He's not too shabby! He's always organising those around him."#BHAFC striker @GM_83 describes playing against "man-mountain" Virgil Van Dijk.
📻 Listen live: https://t.co/EKtfsenvdD pic.twitter.com/05MeJQ0EpQ
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) December 14, 2018
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Doubts over the world record £75million fee for a defender that Liverpool splashed on his services in January have long been diminished.
The former Southampton man has not only been a colossus in protecting Alisson’s goal, but he has proven the perfect mentor for Joe Gomez and his two young full-backs.
Rarely does he find himself in a moment of panic, nor has he looked uncomfortable with either aerial threats or pace and trickery in behind.
The majority of current Liverpool fans may well already argue he is the most accomplished centre-back they have seen play for this club.