If it weren’t for the net, his header would still be travelling now
The plaudits for Virgil van Dijk continue to arrive after Liverpool continued their excellent season by beating Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, the defender’s attacking exploits justifying particular praise.
Not only did he notch a vital header after 68 minutes, the Dutchman also assisted Sadio Mane’s opener thanks to a long ball over the top that picked out the winger perfectly.
What a header!
Virgil van Dijk's first Champions League goal for Liverpool is a massive one 💥 pic.twitter.com/XRWR22mpPi
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2019
That made Van Dijk the first Liverpool player to bag an assist and goal in a Champions League knockout away game since 2007, when Craig Bellamy did the same in a 2-1 last-16 win at Barcelona’s Camp Nou. The Reds, of course, went on the reach the final in that year’s competition.
Bellamy’s performance also went down in club folklore after the Welshman infamously attacked John Arne Riise with a golf club after a team night out. Bellamy set up his teammate’s goal and celebrated by imitating a golf swing, before netting the winner.
After Wednesday’s game, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp lauded van Dijk’s performance as definitive in their win. He said: “You could write a book about his skills, his strengths, how much I like him, what a fantastic person he is. He’s so young, already so mature, so strong, all good.”
A moment of class from Sadio Mané!!!
A crucial away goal for Liverpool as they lead in Germany 🙌 pic.twitter.com/wychXP7UsX
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2019
However, the 27-year-old, tipped to be among the players in with a shout of winning the Premier League player of the season award, was told by his manager that he could do even better.
“He was involved in Bayern’s goal as well, so what a night,” added Klopp.
“Virgil knows he can play better than he did. We can play better.”
