Jamie Carragher has claimed that Virgil van Dijk’s start to the season has been severely underrated.

Van Dijk had a disappointing season last time out, with plenty starting to wonder whether the 32-year-old had finally passed his peak.

But – thankfully – Virgil has looked reinvigorated this campaign. Taking the captain’s armband from Jordan Henderson appears to have done him good. And writing in his column for The Telegraph today, it seems Reds legend Carragher agrees.

“For Liverpool to be title challengers this season, Virgil van Dijk must re-establish himself as the team’s figurehead,” says the pundit.

“The reassuring news for Jurgen Klopp is he is doing so. Apart from a bad afternoon against Newcastle United, Van Dijk’s form has been an overlooked feature of Liverpool’s encouraging start.

“It has been a timely response because, for the first time in his Anfield career, Van Dijk has to silence doubters.

“By his standards, the last 12 months were poor. But we should not forget how extraordinarily high those standards are.”

Van Dijk going under the radar

We’d argue that the Newcastle red card aside, Van Dijk has had one other major blot on his copybook this season.

His pass to Alexis Mac Allister last time out against Brighton was horribly short. It put the Argentine in trouble and unnecessarily opened the door for the Seagulls to take the lead.

Those two moments aside though, Virgil has indeed been very good. The responsibility of the captaincy does look to be bringing out the best in him.

Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Last season the Dutchman seemed lethargic, even uninterested. But the reshaping of the team has brought the fire back.

On his day, Van Dijk is still more than likely the best centre-back in world football. Some may dispute that, but we can’t see who can match Liverpool’s No.4.

After his long-term injury in 2020, some seem to have forgotten just how robust Van Dijk is, too. He may be 32, but Virgil has only missed 12 of 84 Premier League games since his injury – two as a result of suspension. Before that, Van Dijk featured in 76 out of 76.

He keeps himself in impeccable shape and the big man is far, far from finished yet. Keep up the good form, and he won’t be overlooked for long.