Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is on course to take the Premier League’s passing crown from Jorginho – the man who pipped him to it last season. Van Dijk has been imperious at the back for Liverpool ever since he joined in a record deal for a defender from Southampton in January 2018.
And Reds fans have appreciated his ability to pop up in the opponents’ box ever since his debut-marking FA Cup third-round winner against rivals Everton at Anfield.
But this season his passing appears to have got better and become more important to Liverpool’s evolving style of play under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool’s team possession percentage has actually gone down this term from 62% to 57%, demonstrating a clear change of approach.
And Liverpool look to use Van Dijk’s ability to thread long, raking passes through to the forwards, or advanced full-backs deep in their opponents’ half.
The 28-year-old is getting more time on the ball because rival teams sit back to try and stop Liverpool’s attacking stars exploiting any space, so consequently, he is making more passes – more than anyone else in the Premier League as things stand.
Official Premier League statistics show that Van Dijk has attempted 902 passes through the first 12 games, that works out at an average of over 75 per match.
He also has completed the most passes and is currently 37 pass attempts clear of second-placed Jorginho, who remains integral to Chelsea’s pattern of play despite playing under his second different manager in two years at Stamford Bridge.
The Italy international topped the list of Premier League passers last season with a grand total of 3,118 – with van Dijk second only to the Chelsea star with 3,037.
Both players easily smashed previous records, recorded since the start of the 2003/04 campaign, eventually surpassing Nicolas Otamendi’s mark of 2,825 with more than a game to spare.
Possession-based football has been king for a few years now and Premier League clubs’ injury prevention methods are so good nowadays that the 3,000 barrier was always going to be under threat.
But this season might not see another increase as neither the leading duo, nor Liverpool’s Andy Robertson who is third for passes attempted, are currently on course to get above 2,900.
Nevertheless, Van Dijk’s ability to find his team-mates with either the simple or longer pass will remain a key foundation of Liverpool’s title tilt with legendary ex-Anfield player (and manager) Graeme Souness effusive in his praise for him recently. “He is the best for me,” Souness said on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday coverage. “He’s faultless – when I watch him, he’s always in control, never extended. I’d like to see him get on the ball, get into midfield and make the simpler passes, but he borders on near faultless.
COMMENTS