Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has said the "connection" he shares with manager Jurgen Klopp has been crucial to his development as a player.
The Dutchman moved to the Reds in January 2018 and has since progressed into one of the best footballers on the planet. Van Dijk was sensational last season as Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League, and he has performed well again in the current campaign, with the team establishing an eight-point lead at the summit of the Premier League.
Naturally, Van Dijk has been the recipient of plenty of praise, and he's said Klopp has been important in keeping him grounded, per Chris Burton of Goal:
"I have a very similar connection with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool as I had earlier with Ronald Koeman at Southampton.