In a world of Rolls Royce central defenders, Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp needed a tank to keep out Burnley's physical onslaught. Grace, beauty, and composure may ooze from Virgil van Dijk, but the Dutchman's blood, sweat, and an awful lot of grit is what helped him cope with the Clarets' 6ft 6in summer signing Wout Weghorst.
The modern defender, particularly one of van Dijk’s stature, is a truly wonderful thing, but nothing is pretty when you are facing an onslaught of driven passes and crosses from Sean Dyche’s gutsy side.
"He was absolutely at his best again and I would say that is good timing because there is a decisive part of the season coming now, obviously. Long may it continue,” Klopp said when asked about van Dijk’s performance.
