Liverpool have slowed down over the past few months, no longer performing at the full-throttle, uncontainable pace that saw Arne Slot steamroll through his opponents over the opening months of his Anfield tenure.
The early knockings of the season carried a sort of unfettered freedom within Liverpool’s squad, with rivals eagerly awaiting the almighty collapse after dramatic summer upheaval.
But this hasn’t happened. The Merseysiders are a whisker away from winning the Premier League, dominant and at the summit for the lion’s share of the term. Slot, truly, has enjoyed staggering success as Liverpool’s new driver.
The secret within Slot’s tactical sauce lies in the nuances of his system, his attention to detail, his fixed focus on the minutiae. He differs from his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, but one shared characteristic is a recognition of elite-level talent, of lifting good players and making them great.
Of course, he also shares with Klopp an understanding that his superstars are not easily replaced. That’s why tying down Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, both drifting toward their mid-thirties, was among new sporting director Richard Hughes’ primary responsibilities are being appointed last year.
The veterans are both brilliant, both two sides of the same coin, but failure to keep the skipper at the club could have been the most damaging outcome for the title-charging Redmen.
The importance of Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool
Van Dijk has extended his Liverpool contract by two years, which will take his Merseyside career to the end of the 2026/27 season, just shy of the decade mark, having won the full gamut, and with maybe even more yet to come.
Van Dijk is 33 but still among the foremost players in Liverpool’s squad. He’s played more minutes than any of his teammates this season (4,077), having completed 92% of his passes and won 68% of his duels, as per Sofascore.
The towering defender will captain Liverpool toward the Premier League title.
He may well be the best defender in the world, but Van Dijk’s influence stretches beyond that of simply a tactical sense, with his leadership and demanding attitude raising the bar and indeed the level of those around him.
We hate to caveat all this with some pragmatism, but the Netherlands captain is nearing his 34th birthday.
He’s still at the highest level, but he’s not getting any younger. Liverpool need to strengthen their rearguard this summer, signing a centre-half capable of succeeding the £400k-per-week titan in a few years.
Liverpool chasing the new Van Dijk
Liverpool need to sign a defender this summer, and they appear to have centred on Dean Huijsen, who is one of the hottest commodities on the market at the moment.
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Bournemouth’s young star, 20, has a £50m release clause in his contract and is expected to be on the move.
According to Fabrizio Romano, though, FSG are determined to sign him, getting ready for a big push as the market prepares to swing open.
Speaking on GIVEMESPORTS’ Market Madness, he said: “Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool. These three clubs are really interested. I think he’s going to stay in the Premier League. There is interest from Real Madrid but at the same time, Madrid internally have not decided if they want to sign a centre-back this summer. The timing is helping the English clubs.”
Why Dean Huijsen has the potential to reach Van Dijk levels
He may be a Spain international, but Huijsen was born a Netherlands native, moving to the Iberian nation as a youth after being offered a scholarship with Malaga during his formative years.
Bournemouth saw an opportunity and pounced last summer, signing Juventus’ academy member in a deal worth £15m, Andoni Iraola identifying the youngster’s modern-angled skill set.
It would be a brave observer to argue against his success on the south coast, with analyst Ben Mattinson commenting that he’s “the most in-demand centre-back in the world” right now.
Two-footed, Huijsen has plied his trade on the left side of Bournemouth’s central defence this season, which suggests that he could be a suitable heir for Van Dijk when that dreaded time comes.
Matches (starts)
33 (33)
27 (22)
Goals
2
2
Assists
1
1
Clean sheets
14
7
Touches*
89.6
60.5
Key passes*
0.3
0.5
Pass completion
92%
85%
Ball recoveries*
3.2
3.4
Tackles + interceptions*
2.6
3.0
Clearances*
5.1
5.9
Duels (won)*
4.8 (68%)
3.9 (56%)
He certainly wears the trappings of an elite-level centre-back, albeit he’s not there yet. Huijsen, like Van Dijk, is an aerially adept defender with a wide tactical remit that incorporates the defensive fundamentals with a forward-passing style that helps create from deep, establishing a wave-like flow.
It’s almost as if he’s tailor-made for a future in Slot’s Liverpool squad. Huijsen is making a key pass once every two Premier League fixtures, which is quite the feat and an illustration of his creative flair, his determination to push play forward.
As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 6% of central defenders in the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 11% for progressive carries, the top 19% for aerial battles won and the top 2% for both of interceptions and clearances made per 90, further underlining that point.
The 6 foot 6 defender has the rangy, dynamic style to succeed Van Dijk, with such an interesting blend of talent surely suggesting that he could reach the same levels of his countryman, born in Holland as he was.
Given that he could spend a few years absorbing the fruits of Van Dijk’s late labours, this really does feel like one to get excited about.
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