Virgil van Dijk has had “the Cantona effect” at Liverpool, claims Phil Thompson, with the Dutch defender seeing the impact he has made at Anfield compared to that of a Manchester United legend.
Title ambition was formed on Merseyside long before the Netherlands international centre-half arrived on their books.
A long wait for domestic dominance was, however, stretching towards the 30-year mark when a record-breaking £75 million ($94m) transfer was put in place during the winter window of 2018.
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Van Dijk made an immediate impression at Liverpool, with the Reds winning the Champions League at the end of his first full campaign.