Virgil van Dijk sets a new record in the English top flight
Virgil van Dijk sets a new record in the English top flight
Dutch footballer Virgil van Dijk was once again a rock for his side as they extended their winning streak to seven.
Record holder Virgil van Dijk
The 30-year-old turned his 60th Premier League home game unbeaten for Liverpool into a new record in the English top flight. Virgil van Dijk played all 90 minutes of his side’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham United on Saturday. Like his personal milestone, the victory also keeps the Reds behind the Man City leaders in the title race.
Since moving from Southampton in 2018, the Dutch footballer has never tasted defeat in the Premier League in front of an Anfield crowd. In Saturday’s game, the Dutchman played 59 home matches for Liverpool in the competition, winning 51 and playing eight.
And Van Dijk brought up 60 as Sadio Mane’s single goal saw through the Merseysiders in a tense clash against the Hammers. No other player in Premier League history has managed to complete their first 60 Premier League home matches not previously scored for the club.
The previous record holder was English footballer Lee Sharpe, who played four league seasons for Man Utd since the start of the competition in 1992 without a defeat at Old Trafford, reaching a total of 59 matches.
A little about the topic
Liverpool have now won their last seven league appearances to close the gap on Man City to just three points. While their deadly forward duo Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah often get prolific, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also has the luxury of a waterproof defense put together by Van Dijk.
The Reds have conceded just two goals during this race and with 20 goals this season they have the third best backline in the entire Premier League behind Prosecution Pep Guardiola and Chelsea. They will return to action at Anfield on Tuesday when they defend a 2-0 last-16 Champions League lead against Inter in the second leg.