It would have been very easy for me to pick Mohamed Salah as the man of the Premier League today when the King of Egypt shone and set off a brilliant two-goal strike. 200 goals in a lifetime in English football would not be desirable to acknowledge both the day and his unparalleled season of glory. Ten goals and four assists in the opening 12 games of this ongoing 2023/24 campaign make him the top scorer in all individual awards when the season ends. All that is clear and makes you wonder about the exploits of the record goalscorer, but one terrible display overshadowed his team-mate’s performance today, which was a defensive masterclass.
Today, as in most of the campaign so far, Virgil van Dijk was brilliant. Any doubts about his body and level of play must now be put to rest as the best defender in the world has cemented his position at the top of the rear guard mountain. Wednesday’s humiliation at Toulouse was an unpleasant and uncoordinated mess, with Kostas Tsimikas and Wataru EndΕ struggling terribly against mediocre opponents. The moment they started today with their Dutch captain, I was not worried or angry with them because I knew that the leadership and brilliance of their skipper would lead them to much better performances. The fact that this system relies on the former Southampton defender’s organizational approach cannot be understated, considering how fans of Alberto Moreno have seen their game soar when paired with the 6ft 4in colossus.
Captain Marvel
Today’s statistical breakdown tries to explain what an elite player he was and how great a man he was. The ability to play and develop from deep with his long balls was a constant source of how the Reds started their attacks. As an impenetrable force of nature, it allows immense confidence to spread throughout the team, knowing that it can always clear its limit. The team leader was always an ex-Celtic man, regardless of the armband or tag previously given. This formation and hybrid initiative will suffer many mishaps along the way, which is why the continued otherworldly performances of Alisson Becker and Virgil are so important for Liverpool 2.0.
I wanted to finish this article only after seeing the result of Chelsea vs Manchester City. This 4-4 draw means Liverpool are second in the league with a brilliant 27 points, leaving them just one point behind the leaders at the Etihad. Certain components of the Reds’ current squad are vital to any title challenge, so the status and quality of Virgil van Dijk has aided that push. Today it was a case of two superstars standing above the rest as the man with the armband cruised and led his side to the man of the match award.
As long as this giant continues in this form, a surprise challenge for the 2023/24 Premier League title is possible.
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