Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been a stabilising presence in the Reds defence ever since his £75m arrival from Southampton last January.
A key part of that is his towering presence in the box, dealing with crosses and corners with ease. While training on international duty, the Dutchman showed off his incredible jumping reach by heading a ball attached to the ceiling:
Virgil Van Dijk is a monster. pic.twitter.com/NKsrs1JfAb
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) 15 November 2018
Fans on Twitter were all praising van Dijk’s commanding aerial presence:
Virgin Van Dijk is our monster ?
— Memz (@MemzWadee) 15 November 2018
I'd probably die if I fell from the height that man can jump #lfc #VanDijk https://t.co/yT8ZK6KIsF
— ThisIsRumourControl (@HereAreFacts) 15 November 2018
It seems like Virgil van Dijk and his Avatar living in same world? Wow ? #LFC https://t.co/hwn9Qbv0GZ
— poshLFC ?? (@PoshLFC) 15 November 2018
— Andreas (@Haugiis) 15 November 2018
@SuperWaldo19 beaaaast
— pizzaaaaa (@aryanlovespizza) 15 November 2018
BREAKING: VVD just head dunked a large size football #YNWA
— Atlarge (@Geedhai) 15 November 2018
@Austinmod check the flying dutchman.
— Φάνης Αφανής (@Fanis_Afanis97) 15 November 2018
Wowww hes a beast made us so much better
— simon buxton (@lfcbuxton) 15 November 2018
No wonder he wins every aerial ball he goes for #Colossal
— olifant (@Olieefant) 15 November 2018
He’s 6ft 5 and can jump up to 12ft 72, he needs to be nerfed
— Marcus (@xmalone99) 15 November 2018
The difference that the 27-year-old has made to Liverpool’s defence since signing has been nothing short of remarkable.
So far this campaign, the Reds have only conceded one goal at home in the league, and that run stretches even further back if we look at last season. From January to May 2018, the Merseyside club kept five clean sheets at Anfield and conceded just three times.
With currently the joint best defensive record in the Premier League, the club have seen a dramatic improvement at the back since van Dijk made the switch to Liverpool.