Liverpool‘s hopes of winning the Premier League title took a blow on Sunday as they could only manage a 0-0 draw in the Merseyside derby against Everton – their second straight game against a big rival in which they were held to a goalless draw, after last week’s result against Manchester United.
The result leaves the Reds now one point behind Manchester City even as Virgil van Dijk delivered a man-of-the-match display.
Here’s a closer look at his performance.
KEY STATS
Tackles – 2
Tackle success rate – 100%
Interceptions – 3
Clearances – 13
Dribbled past – 0
Key passes – 1
30-SECOND REPORT
Van Dijk was at his absolute best today, and it was a shame he didn’t come out on the winning side. From the off it was plain just quite how much getting a win here meant to him, as he played with an intensity nobody else could match – not even the battling Everton players.
The hosts had their moments but they were largely half-chances, because the centre-back refused to let them through. This was one of the best defensive performances all season.
GOT RIGHT
Positioning
Van Dijk just knows exactly where to be. He was always in the perfect position to cut out a pass or cross, rarely needing to tackle – he only had two all game.
Leadership
Towards the end, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson shouted at his team-mates after another wasted attack, a natural show of frustration. But Van Dijk was the true leader on Sunday. It was he who delivered a commanding performance and demanded his team-mates do the same. Unfortunately, they couldn’t.
Virgil van Dijk made more clearances vs. Everton (13) than any other Liverpool player has managed in a Premier League game so far this season; his joint-personal-best tally for the club.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 3, 2019
An absolute magnet for the ball. 🧲 pic.twitter.com/5OzQHLaraX
GOT WRONG
Finishing? Maybe? This was a game that would have deserved a Van Dijk goal and his choice to head a late free-kick back across the goal instead of trying to score was slightly strange, though in fairness the ball was a little too high for him to get over it and power a header home.
But that’s nitpicking on a day where the centre-back was the standout player. There are other players paid to score the goals for Liverpool, even if the Dutchman did score twice in their last game.
VERDICT
At times it seemed the 27-year-old was the only player in red feeling the urgency needed from a team chasing a title. He was in the right place at the right time to snuff out every Everton attack, and any mistake from a team-mate was met with a death stare. Even the assistant referee wasn’t spared after missing in Van Dijk’s eyes, a foul in the first half.
On a day where Liverpool’s other key players let them down, Van Dijk was an absolute colossus.
RATING: 10/10
