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Carragher claims Liverpool have a player who’s been ‘better than van Dijk’ this term
Jamie Carragher has told that Joel Matip has been better than Virgil van Dijk this season, claiming that the Liverpool defender is top class every time he plays.
Matip has been outstanding in the opening weeks of the campaign for the Reds. He has started seven of their opening eight games in the Premier League.
And the Cameroon international has played a huge part in Jurgen Klopp’s men keeping five clean sheets already in the top flight this term.
In fact, Liverpool are the only team left in the Premier League to not lose a single game so far this season.
But they face a big task in their next game, as they battle Manchester United looking to compound the misery for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Ahead of the fixture, Carragher put together a combined XI made up of Liverpool and Manchester United players.
Matip made the cut. And Carragher insisted that he simply had to be included given the form that he has shown this season.
“He’s probably actually been better than Virgil van Dijk this season,” . “And he’s a player who goes under the radar because he’s not a huge name, he came in on a free transfer.
“He’s been there a long time under Jurgen Klopp. He’s had injury problems. But every time he plays, he’s top class. He really is. And that partnership with Virgil van Dijk at this minute is really good.”
Matip playing some of the best football of his Liverpool spell right now
It is surely fair that Matip has probably never been better during his time on Merseyside. He has been colossal so far this season.
He seems to have cult-hero status at Anfield. The fans particularly adore his lung-busting bursts up the pitch when he is in possession and given licence to break forward.
But suggesting he is only a cult-hero is doing his form a disservice. It is hard to argue with Carragher’s claim that he has been better than van Dijk so far.
He is certainly deserving in that combined XI Carragher put together.