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.
A sense of relief permeated through the words of the former Borussia Dortmund manager, almost as if hope had been restored with van Dijk’s return for prominence.
But if there were any concerns about the form of the 30-year-old defensive behemoth, then it beggars the question of Ibrahima Konate’s lack of action since his £36million arrival in the summer.
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All problems in the backline are now solved was the consensus greeting the former RB Leipzig defender’s unveiling at Anfield.
With swift intent and purpose, the Reds secured his arrival and agreed to pay his release clause a month before the summer window even began.
Once the contracts were signed and the unveiling photos were taken, Liverpool left the transfer window before their rivals had even entered it.
Unlike their long pursuit of van Dijk, Klopp’s side were not dragged into endless, bitter negotiations, that concluded with allegations of tapping up the player – they knew Konate was the man, and they ensured the deal went ahead with minimal introductions.
Yet, their interest and evident admiration in the 22-year-old has transpired to seven Premier League appearances all season, and one start in Liverpool’s last six league matches.
Appearances are often deceiving, but Konate seemed to not only be the perfect counterbalance and partner to van Dijk, but also the heir to van Dijk’s throne.
After his injury nobody knew if van Dijk would ever be the same dominant defender who revolutionised the Reds’ back-line and transformed an entertaining but leaky side, into one of the most dominant sides in the world.
Three league clean sheets in their last four matches suggests Liverpool’s defence is ticking once more, but what would happen if van Dijk was on the receiving end of another clumsy challenge?
Is Konate battle hardened enough to provide the fortifications of a title challenge which will likely be over with one more home loss?
Klopp prefers to drip-feed experience to his new signings, yet Konate can only learn so much by watching from the side-lines.
If van Dijk, Joel Matip or, to the horror of Klopp and Liverpool fans, both got injured, Klopp only has Konate and Joe Gomez in times of injury trouble.
Gomez was almost impeccable in Liverpool’s triumphant Premier League campaign, yet the Englishman has only played 15 minutes of league football.
The last time he made a league appearance longer than one solitary minute was the 2-2 home draw with City in October.
Liverpool are currently in a title race, but if van Dijk’s yard of pace is halted by form or another injury, then it could be another one-sided end to the season for City
