DANNY MURPHY: Ignore the critics – Virgil van Dijk is the best centre-back in the Premier League

The reports about the death of Virgil van Dijk were always greatly exaggerated. He remains the Premier League’s best center midfielder alongside Raphael Varane, and William Saliba at Arsenal looks set to take over next.

I never understood all that stuff about Van Dijk not being the same player after his knee injury.

He was great last season when Liverpool had the joint best defensive record in the Premier League with Manchester City.

Okay, he hasn’t been at his best this season, but he’s set such high standards for himself that no one can play for years without making the occasional mistake.

Liverpool have been lucky to keep four clean sheets in a row in the league against Everton, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Wolves, but they definitely wouldn’t have done it without Van Dijk coming back from a hamstring strain.

Liverpool were perhaps lucky enough to keep four consecutive clean sheets, including against Crystal Palace.

It’s hard for any striker to out-jump or out-muscle the Dutchman and I don’t think there’s a problem with his speed either. People get confused between a defender getting outplayed by a striker and trapped on the pitch against and chasing him. There is a difference.

If Van Dijk or any defender moves in one direction and the ball is played behind them, the striker is already moving and moving away.

It has nothing to do with rhythm. The winner of a sprint race is usually the one who gets off the blocks the fastest. Van Dijk’s best partner at the back is Ibrahima Konate. It will be interesting to see what United try to do to destabilize them.

Play Wout Weghorst in the middle to try to assert yourself physically or use Marcus Rashford’s pace up the middle.

Van Dijk would probably prefer to face Weghorst. He will know his strengths and weaknesses by playing with the Dutch team. But he is such a confident lad that he also envisions himself against Rashford.

The Dutch defender fancies himself up against in-form Man United striker Marcus Rashford.

I suspect that Liverpool will try to take the lead from the opening whistle and play a high line.

It worked against Real Madrid, they were up 2-0 at the start, but they didn’t adjust and then they defended their lead properly.

Against United, if they are ahead there is no shame in becoming a bit more pragmatic.

The concern for Liverpool is that if United score first, they have the knowledge to shut down the opposition. They proved it by winning the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.