- Van Dijk is considered by many to be the Premier League’s best central defender
- Saliba has become a vital part of Arsenal’s defence under manager Mikel Arteta
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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has hailed William Saliba for making ‘very good steps’ with Arsenal, as he lauded the Frenchman’s ability.
Van Dijk has been viewed as one of the Premier League’s leading defenders during his time at Liverpool.
This has been shown by the Dutchman being named in the PFA’s Premier League Team of the Season four times during his career.
Saliba has been included in the team for the last two seasons having become a vital part of Arsenal’s title challenging squad under Mikel Arteta.
The 23-year-old has been touted by many to take Van Dijk’s status as the Premier League’s best central defender.
Virgil van Dijk has hailed the progression of Arsenal star William Saliba in recent seasons
Saliba has become a vital part of Arsenal’s title challenging teams under boss Mikel Arteta
Van Dijk has revealed he is also a fan of Saliba, after being asked by Rio Ferdinand for the defender who has impressed him the most in recent years.
‘Obviously, Saliba’s making very good steps at the moment,’ Van Dijk said, speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.
‘He’s the first one I just have in mind now. He’s a solid one. I think in possession, he’s doing a good job.’
Van Dijk also admitted Saliba is playing at a higher level than he was at the same stage of his career.
The Dutchman, who is a decade older than Saliba, had been playing for Celtic when he was 23.
He later moved to Southampton, before completing a £75million move to Liverpool in 2018 and underlining his status as one of the best defenders in the world.
‘I think, if I’m honest, when I was that age, I was nowhere near where he was today,’ Van Dijk said.
‘Obviously, that’s the beauty of football as well, I like to watch other defenders and pick up so many stuff from them.
Van Dijk admits Saliba, 23, is currently playing at a higher level than he did at the same age
The Dutch central defender had been playing for Celtic at the same age Saliba is now
Saliba will be hoping to help Arsenal claim silverware after near misses in the last two seasons
‘There are so many good ball players and centre halves. When you watch the game, I definitely watch games, especially on the highest level, you can always pick up certain things.
‘But I also have in mind that teams are defending in a different way than we are defending, so you have to keep that in mind too. I think, especially in ball possession, the way you position yourself, because obviously we are a team that has the ball a lot.
‘I play on the left side as a right footer, centre-half, obviously for many years. Sometimes it’s good to pick up the positioning of certain players and what they do. I feel like, at any age, you can keep learning and I definitely still do that.’
Liverpool and Arsenal could be poised to battle out for silverware this season, with Van Dijk and Saliba likely to be crucial to their team’s respective ambitions.
The teams drew 2-2 in the Premier League on Sunday, with the result allowing reigning champions Man City to go a point clear at the top of the table on 23 points.
Liverpool lie second in the table, while Arsenal are five points adrift after nine matches of the season.
