Steven Gerrard has expressed his belief that one defender surpasses Virgil van Dijk in Premier League history. The debate over who is the best defender has been ongoing since Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018. While the Dutchman has become a dominant figure in Jurgen Klopp’s successful era at Liverpool, rival fans often challenge the claim that Van Dijk is the greatest, citing defenders like Chelsea’s John Terry, Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand, and other legends like Vincent Kompany and Tony Adams.
While all these players are undoubtedly elite, Gerrard, despite his deep ties to Liverpool, surprised many by selecting a different defender for his all-time Premier League five-a-side team. In a 2023 interview with the PFA, the former England captain admitted that while Van Dijk had transformed Liverpool’s defense, he opted for John Terry instead. Gerrard explained, “I played a lot of my career with John, and he was a colossal player, so I think I have to pick him… I’d love to pick big Virg because he’s my favourite defender in the world right now, but from my experience, John would get in anyone’s team.”
As Liverpool’s current club captain, Van Dijk’s future remains uncertain with his contract entering its final six months.
However, with the Reds performing well in both the Premier League and Champions League, Van Dijk could well surpass Terry’s legacy, although the latter’s place in history remains secure.
