Saturday afternoon saw Virgil van Dijk pass his first major test of the 2022/23 season.
The Liverpool defender, along with Joel Matip, limited Erling Haaland to very few chances throughout the Community Shield and comfortably won their aerial battles with the Norwegian forward. As is often the case, new strikers arriving in the Premier League often use Van Dijk as the benchmark for what to expect in arguably the toughest league in the world.
One player who will be going head-to-head with the Dutch international this season is Brighton's Deniz Undav, a name many supporters will not be familiar with. The 26-year-old was signed by the Seagulls for £6million during the January transfer window and was immediately loaned back to Belgian first division side, Union Saint-Gilloise, as he looked to achieve the unthinkable.
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Back in the top-flight for the first time since 1972 last campaign, Union remarkably ended the season four points short of becoming title winners. Key to this spectacular season unfolding was Undav, whose 26 league goals and 13 assists placed the club on the brink of a first top-flight title since 1935.
After missing out on completing a sensational underdog story, the German-born attacker soon turned his attention to the prospect of featuring in the Premier League and shaping up against Liverpool's colossus at the back.
"After I signed the contract with Brighton, I thought: ‘Wow, wow, wow!’ Soon I’ll be playing in arguably the best league in the world," he told SportBILD in May. "I don’t think many people would have thought I could do that on my way. But only when I’ve made my mark there will I be able to say I’ve done great things."
"I’m looking forward to the duels with top defenders like Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk," added Undav. "My motivation is to prove myself at the highest level against the greatest footballers."
The majority of Undav's career has been spent in the lower divisions of German football, with the forward representing third-tier club Meppen as recently as May 2020. Whichever club he has represented in his career, he has scored goals – something the Seagulls will hope can materialise at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton owner, Tony Bloom, is no stranger to the talent of his new recruit due to being a majority shareholder of Union Saint-Gilloise and will hope the club's well-documented struggles within the final third can now be addressed.
Graham Potter's side were one of only four Premier League sides to claim a point at Anfield last season, fighting back from two goals down to snatch a share of the spoils. Their visit to Merseyside this campaign falls on October 1 and represents an exciting challenge for Van Dijk to face off against Undav, a player whose unpredictability could see him hit the ground running in his new surroundings.
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