Liverpool hero Dan Agger says Virgil van Dijk's arrival has been key to their surge.

Agger, who made 232 appearances for the Reds across an eight-year spell, has been hugely impressed with the impact the world's most expensive centre-back has had at Anfield.

"He has changed not only the defence but the whole team," Agger told the Liverpool Echo. "He's definitely what Liverpool have been missing the last couple of seasons.

"So he's changed a lot just with his presence and he looks like a strong leader and he's a good footballer as well, so that's a good combination.

"I think he has made the whole team better but we have Alisson in goal as well and he has changed a lot too.

"To have somebody there you can trust and you can rely on and you feel comfortable with is important as well, especially for the defenders."