Liverpool has finally signed their long-term transfer target, Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton for a reported world-record transfer fee of £75m and the Dutch defender will join the Reds on January 1, 2018. The 26-year-old will be handed the number four jersey upon his arrival which was worn by some of the Liverpool greats which include Sami Hyypia and Steve Nicol. Jurgen Klopp’s men currently find themselves in fourth place in the league standings and are leading the race to finish in the top 4 positions at the end of the campaign so as to ensure Champions League football for next season.
The Merseysiders have been mesmerising going forward but they have struggled defensively especially away from Anfield so far. Their backline has shipped in 23 goals in 20 matches which have left them a mammoth 20 points behind league leaders Manchester City.
Van Dijk’s arrival will be a welcome addition to the five-time European champions’ back four and the Kopites from all over the world will be hoping to see their team overcome the recent defensive issues with the Dutch centre-back commanding their defence and leading them to a possible top-four finish. Let’s take a look at how the Reds will line up with new signing Virgil Van Dijk in the starting eleven.
4-3-3 Liverpool Predicted Strongest XI With Virgil Van Dijk In The Backline
Defence
Jurgen Klopp still has a dilemma with regards to the goalkeeping situation at Liverpool. Simon Mignolet has been far too inconsistent this season and so has been their number two goalkeeper, Loris Karius. It’s high time that Danny Ward got a shot in the first team but truth be told, Klopp is set to keep his faith with the Belgian international and he is expected to be shielded by a back four of Joel Matip and Virgil Van Dijk at the heart of the Reds’ defence while Joe Gomez plays at right-back and Trent Alexander-Arnold waits on the bench for his chances in the same position. There’s only one fit left-back at Liverpool right now so Andrew Robertson will automatically take the position in the starting eleven.
On paper, it definitely looks like a much stronger defence with Van Dijk in the team but it remains to be seen whether the Dutch centre-back can actually make a difference when the going gets tough and keep some clean sheets for his side.
Midfield
Phillipe Coutinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are automatic starters ahead of Georginio Wijnaldum in the midfield if recent form is being considered with Emre Can most likely taking the role of a defensive midfielder as captain Jordan Henderson is out of action while James Milner is being used as a backup option for the left-back position.
Attack
Sadio Mane has struggled to score goals recently but there is no doubt about his quality up top. Roberto Firmino has proven his doubters wrong and has turned into one of the most influential strikers in the Premier League and Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool’s player of the season so far! So the front three picks itself and has the potential to strike fear at the heart of any defence in world football.
