Van Dijk Not The Best Defender In The World, Says Richarlison
Richarlison has stoked the flames ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby by saying that Virgil Van Dijk is not the best defender in the world.
Everton will host Liverpool at Goodison Park, with the visitors looking to draw closer to a first league title in three decades with victory over their neighbours.
Van Dijk has been a mainstay in the Premier League since joining Southampton from Celtic in the summer of 2015.
The 28-year-old’s impressive performances for the Saints earned him a £75m move to Liverpool in January 2018 and he has been responsible for transforming a leaky Reds backline into one of the meanest defensive units in the Premier League.
Van Dijk helped Liverpool win the Champions League last season which saw him crowned UEFA’s Men’s Player of the year for 2019 ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi while the Netherlands international has been vital in Liverpool opening up a 22-point gap at the top of the Premier League.
Despite Van Dijk’s achievements in the game, Richarlison is adamant there are three defenders better than the Liverpool centre-back.
'People talk a lot about him, yes he is a great defender but I've already dribbled past him,' Richarlison said of Van Dijk in an interview with Desimpedidos.
'He was chosen as one of the top three in the world as he had an excellent season. But yes, for me there are better defenders.'
When pressed on who is better than Van Dijk, the Brazilian named two of his compatriots and a Real Madrid star, replying: 'Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos'.
