Virgil van Dijk is not only a great defender, he is also an exemplary captain. His thoughtful conversations with teammates, his encouragement for young players and his positive interactions with fans all demonstrate the Dutchman's dedication to his role as captain of Liverpool and the Netherlands.
Ahead of EURO 2024, Van Dijk wrote a personal letter to each member of the Dutch team with encouraging and practical content. The 33-year-old midfielder wore the captain's armband for the 100th time against Arsenal and won 71 matches during this period.
As Liverpool face the post-Jurgen Klopp era, Van Dijk remains calm and motivated. The 1991-born player understands that his role will become even bigger at the club and this will help new captain Arne Slot manage the team better.
“Before working with Van Dijk, I thought I no longer believed in the concept of a complete leader. However, he is a real leader, not only in matches but also in training sessions” - Arne Slot shared.
Under the guidance of the 46-year-old strategist, Van Dijk also has upgraded his playing style. A highlight is his penetrating passes, surpassing the opponent right from the home field.
Slot had originally planned to use Martin Zubimendi - a summer target for Liverpool - as the main receiver of the ball from the defence. However, with a deal for the Spanish midfielder falling through, Ryan Gravenberch was trusted to take on the role and quickly proved himself.
Since the start of the season, Gravenberch has received 73 passes from Van Dijk, making him the most-passing duo in the Premier League this season. In addition, the Klopp captain has also made 50 direct passes to Alexis Mac Allister. These statistics highlight the change in Arne Slot's tactics.
Crucially, the quality of Van Dijk’s passes to Gravenberch was high. They were well-timed, allowing the 22-year-old to open up and even execute a ‘Gravenberch turn’ – a familiar dribble.
The precise long passes pleased Arne Slot, who was always looking for quick attacks. Van Dijk adapted well to this change, thanks to his excellent technique and passing ability.
“It’s a big change because we used to play our own way under Jurgen Klopp and it was quite successful. Now I have more responsibility for starting attacks and I like it. Maybe people are surprised by this change, but that skill has always been in me,” Van Dijk shared.
The difference in Van Dijk’s play can be seen when comparing his passes from last season to this season. Cluster analysis of passes shows that last season, the 33-year-old centre-back often made simple passes to his partner or full-back.
This season, in addition to the familiar passes, direct passes to Gravenberch have become an indispensable part, with 40% of Van Dijk's passes being directed forward - the highest since the 2018-2019 season. This shows his responsibility in advancing the ball for Liverpool.
Van Dijk’s adjustments have helped the Anfield team start the season impressively. The Dutch star’s optimism and presence in training sessions have also had a positive effect. His excellent form has also reminded the Kop leadership about the contract extension of both parties.
