Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has named four past and present Premier League forwards who he says are the toughest opponents he has faced.

Ex-Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is someone that van Dijk claims always managed to get the better of him:

“Every time, you think you’ve got a hold of him, that you’ve got him well marked, but he always manages to score in one way or another: with his head, his foot, his knee.”

Giroud was not the only striker that van Dijk mentioned, though, as he said that Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland, as well as Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus, were all “difficult” to play against too.

Van Dijk has won his fair share of battles against strikers

While he has had his dips in form, particularly in the last couple of years, van Dijk is right up there with the best centre-backs of the Premier League era.

There are not many around who can handle the likes of Aguero and Haaland, while Giroud and Jesus have unique playing styles that make life hard for defenders. Yet, van Dijk usually comes out on top.

Liverpool have the best defence in the Premier League

While many pundits have raved about Jurgen Klopp’s side’s attacking play this season, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the Reds have managed to tighten things up at the back as well.

The backline struggled as the Merseyside club finished 5th last year but there has been a big improvement so far this campaign, with just 18 goals conceded in 20 matches; the best record in the top flight.

A lot of credit has to be given to van Dijk for that. Mainstays of the defence such as Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip have all suffered injuries in recent months and the Liverpool captain has been the one constant keeping things together.

Watch a preview of Liverpool’s plans for the January transfer window on Shots!TV here