Michael Owen has described Liverpool stalwart Virgil van Dijk as the "best centre-half of all time" - while standing next to Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.
Many regard Ferdinand as one of the greatest defenders to ever grace the game, with the ex- England international winning the Premier League six times while at Old Trafford. Van Dijk, in comparison, has lifted the league just once but is widely touted as one of the finest centre-backs to play in the English top-flight.
Owen was speaking ahead of Liverpool 's Champions League semi-final second-leg clash away at Villarreal in which they boast a 2-0 head-start. Van Dijk captained the Reds in the absence of Jordan Henderson - a testament to how much Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp trusts his defender on the biggest stages.
The ex-Liverpool forward was part of BT Sport's pre-match coverage when he was asked as to why he thought Van Dijk had the edge on Ferdinand. The former United defender was also in the studio on punditry duty.
"I’d go further and say he’s the best centre-half of all time. He probably scored a few more goals, we’re not talking much because we’re talking about the greatest here," Owen claimed. "Rio was the best centre-back I had ever played with. Van Dijk, as a centre-forward I look at him and think ‘what do you do against him?’ He’s bigger, faster, stronger than everyone, he’s brilliant on the ball, scores goals, I’ve never seen anything like it."
Before Owen could continue to wax lyrical over the Netherlands international, he did have to address the fact that Van Dijk's honours list does not stand tall against some of the other iconic centre-halves to seal their status as legends of the game.
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"The only thing that goes against him at the moment is his winners' medals. One league, one Champions League," he added. "People like Rio, [Paolo] Maldini, [Franco] Baresi, people you consider as the greatest have numerous so, that’s the only thing."
All the while Ferdinand was listening before being asked himself as to how he feels being viewed as a lesser defender than Van Dijk in the eyes of a former teammate for club and country.
"I felt happy just to be in the conversation!" the ex-Old Trafford star admitted. "You play football to be regarded by your fellow pros as one of the top players and if they say that you’ve done alright in your career. Listen, Virgil van Dijk is the best centre-back on the planet right now. Easy."
