Liverpool hero and former Celtic star Virgil van Dijk has been torn apart by talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy ahead of the Reds' trip to Rangers over the coming week.
The Dutchman, who enjoyed two full seasons at Celtic Park before joining Southampton after impressing in the Scottish Premiership, eventually worked his way to Liverpool where he has become a club legend. Winning every trophy possible at Anfield, Van Dijk has cemented his status as one of the best defenders in the world under Jurgen Klopp, noted for his calmness, effortless approach and domineering presence against the world's best attackers.
But a slow start to the season for the Merseyside outfit has seen the club's stars come under pressure, with Van Dijk not exempt from any criticism as they enter their worst slump of form in the Jurgen Klopp era. And Cundy has downplayed the influence of the Breda-born superstar, stating that he isn't even considering him in the list of the Premier League' s best defenders at present - offering Rangers hope that they could breach the Liverpool defence should they get a run at the Reds defence.
"Van Dijk is nowhere near the top three, four, five or six centre halves in the country right now!” Cundy told talkSPORT.
"He’s no where near Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Sol Campbell. He’s nowhere near it. "[I’m not putting him] anywhere near them. He can’t lace their boots! I’m telling you now, Van Dijk is a brilliant centre-half. But the longevity, the injuries have killed him, they have. [Vincent] Kompany, better centre-half and longevity.
"John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell. Tarkowski has had a better season than him. [Conor] Coady. [Eric] Dier. [William] Saliba. This has got to stop. This conversation. He’s been a brilliant centre-half, but this has got to stop. He’s living off some sort of train that didn’t actually leave the station! He’s won one Champions League and one Premier League!”
Van Dijk only played Rangers once in his Celtic Park career in a League Cup semi-final win back in 2015, and will aim to make it three wins from three after triumphing over Gio van Bronckhorst 's men last season.
