4 days Ago By [email protected] (Matthew Cooper)
Thierry Henry has claimed that Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool's "most important player" after he scored a late winner in his side's 2-1 victory over West Ham on Sunday. The win saw Liverpool take one step closer to the Premier League title as they moved 13 points clear at the top of the table. And while analysing Van Dijk's goal, Arsenal legend Henry insisted he is a more important player for Liverpool than even Mohamed Salah , who has scored a remarkable 32 goals in 46 games across all competitions this season.
However, Henry said of Van Dijk on Sky Sports ' Monday Night Football : "This is why I keep on saying this is the most important player to sign. You have guys that are maybe way better technically, but this is like the foundation of your club. "You saw it, he just went into a mood of 'I want to score'.
Who can do that? He said I want to score, and he went to score. You don't have that often. "For example, if he was in that back four of Nottingham Forest , the coach doesn't have to get up, he will sort it out.
Yes, he will get caught out sometimes, and we saw it, but more often than not, he will stop a counter with his mouth. "He doesn't have to defend, he's very clever. I said, he's the most important player at Liverpool.
Then you have the most valuable player is Mo Salah , he's [Van Dijk] the most important." Salah has already committed his future to Liverpool by signing a new two-year deal and Van Dijk is set to follow suit , having all but confirmed that an agreement has been reached following the win over West Ham . "I think first, all the focus should be going to the Hillsborough anniversary," Van Dijk said.
"I think that's the main thing and then we'll see. The focus will still be on Leicester , but maybe there's some news. I know .
.. but I don't know.
"I love the club, that's pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same. "I think it's the whole combination.
I joined the club in 2017 for many reasons. Reasons like how much it means to all the Scousers, to all the fans around the whole world to be connected to Liverpool. "Being successful with Liverpool, the culture of the club, everything that embodies Liverpool .
.. that is just part of me.
That's why I'm always proud when I wear that shirt, go out there and try to be the best version of myself in terms of the football player that I am." Liverpool will be back in action on Sunday when they travel to the King Power Stadium to take on second bottom Leicester, who have won just one of their last 18 league matches under Ruud van Nistelrooy. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content.
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