Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk has previously revealed the four most challenging strikers he’s come up against in the Premier League.
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The 33-year-old Dutch defender extended his contract with Liverpool on Thursday, committing to the club—who are on the brink of clinching the Premier League title—for at least two more seasons. ..Continue Reading
Van Dijk could potentially lift the league trophy as captain this Sunday (April 20), provided Arsenal lose to Ipswich Town and Liverpool secure a victory over Leicester City later in the day.
Regardless of the outcome, the Netherlands star has already established a strong legacy at Anfield. Over his seven years with the Reds, he’s made 314 appearances and played a key role in their success, which includes one Premier League title, an FA Cup, two EFL Cups, and a Champions League triumph.
Known for his calm and composed defending, Van Dijk rarely looks troubled on the pitch.
Still, he has acknowledged that a handful of forwards have given him a tough time—among them, Olivier Giroud, the former striker for Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan, and France.
“I think that Olivier Giroud [is the toughest striker I’ve played against],” Van Dijk told France Football in 2024.
“Every time you think you’ve got a hold of him, that you’ve got him well marked, he always manages to score in one way or the other.
“With his head, his foot, his knee, he has often scored against me.”
The 33-year-old then named former Manchester City star Sergio Aguero and Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus.
“He [Sergio Aguero] didn’t score many goals against us if I’m honest, but since I played against him when I was at Southampton, he was always a handful,” Van Dijk said about Aguero when speaking on The Rest Is Football.
“He could finish left and right, you always had to be at your best. One goal I remember he scored against us in 18/19, he came in front of Dejan Lovren from a cross, and he just finished it quickly. So yeah, he’s definitely up there.”
The former Southampton defender completed the list by naming Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
“Every striker has different qualities in terms of strengths and weaknesses,” said Van Dijk on Optus Sport’s YouTube channel.
“We all know how much quality he [Erling Haaland] has – strong, fast and a good finisher as well.
“He can punish you in any second, and he scores so many goals for a reason. We have to be very good to keep him quiet, and that’s what we aim for.”
