Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has spoken of how big an influence Virgil van Dijk is on the team.

Since his January 2018 arrival from Southampton, Van Dijk has won the Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool.

Lijnders told AD: “Firstly because of his personality.

"Without saying it, you can see his winning mentality in every vein of his body.

"Two: his influence in the dressing room. He is always calm. His love for clean sheets. From a purely soccer point of view, the last line with Virgil can easily play higher. And keep playing high."