{"id":296872,"date":"2023-10-23T11:23:59","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T11:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=296872"},"modified":"2023-10-23T11:23:59","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T11:23:59","slug":"virgil-van-dijk-will-show-he-is-premier-leagues-best-once-more-sami-hyypia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/virgil-van-dijk-will-show-he-is-premier-leagues-best-once-more-sami-hyypia\/","title":{"rendered":"Virgil van Dijk will show he is Premier League\u2019s best once more \u2013 Sami Hyypia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Former Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia believes Virgil van Dijk will prove this season he is once again the best centre-back in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

The Netherlands international has faced questions about whether can rediscover the form which arguably made him the world\u2019s top defender prior to a knee ligament injury in October 2020.<\/p>\n

However, there are signs the current Reds skipper is edging closer to his best with his commanding performance in the weekend\u2019s Merseyside derby win over Everton another indicator of a return to his previous high level.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Cyq6Bqkr8zE<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is one of the best in the business in the world,\u201d Hyypia told the PA news agency at a Nike Game On initiative which, in conjunction with the LFC Foundation, has provided more than 8,000 local schoolchildren with access to a range of sports.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he has raised the standard with everyone expecting him to play at that level every time and that is very difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he is doing well, he is a big part of our team and a big leader of the team so I think we all need to be patient and his best is coming.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this season he has shown in some games he is still at the level and I have no doubts he will be the best centre-back in the league this season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite their good start to the season there has been scrutiny on Liverpool\u2019s defence, with right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold now operating in a hybrid midfield playmaker role in possession and opponents seeking to exploit the space in behind.<\/p>\n

The focus is likely to intensify following the news left-back Andy Robertson will be sidelined for three months after shoulder surgery, with Kostas Tsimikas having to deputise.<\/p>\n

\n

I have no doubts he will be the best centre-back in the league this season<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

But Hyypia has faith in both Liverpool\u2019s full-backs, adding: \u201cTrent is like a midfield player. He can pass short and long and has the vision to see the passes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this role suits him well and when he is in the midfield position he doesn\u2019t have that big distance to go back defending when we lose the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Tsimikas, the former Finland international said: \u201cI think he will get a lot of responsibility now and he has his chance to show what kind of player he is.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully he is courageous and takes his chance. If that is not going to work then Jurgen (Klopp) needs to think of something else to solve the problem but I have confidence in Tsimikas that he can do the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having come through a testing set of fixtures Liverpool sit third in the table, a point behind leaders Manchester City. With games to come against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Luton \u2013 all teams in the bottom six \u2013 and Brentford before a late November trip to the Etihad Stadium, Hyypia believes the platform has been laid for another title challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ambition is to win the league,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as we are competing until May to be the champions I think we can say we will have had a successful season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe top four is always the minimum target to reach but everyone wants success and some trophies this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be foolish to look at what the others are doing. We just concentrate on what we are doing and do what we do best and then we see what the result is.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first three years of Game On programme, funded by Nike and delivered by the LFC Foundation, has engaged more than 8,000 children \u2013 including 950-plus disabled and 1,000-plus ethnically-diverse participants \u2013 aged between seven and 12 and 46 grassroots sports clubs with coaching delivered in 15 different sports.<\/p>\n

\u201cGame On is about using the power of sport, Nike and Liverpool to engage local young people in sport \u2013 unusually for us not football,\u201d said LFC Foundation chief executive Matt Parish.<\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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