Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk snubbed as Man Utd icon names best defenders in Premier League

Former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidić has snubbed Virgil van Dijk when naming the best defenders in the Premier League. Van Dijk has had an excellent season for Liverpool, missing just two matches through suspension after his red card at Newcastle earlier in the campaign.

The Dutchman has had as many as four partners in central defense with Joël Matip starting the campaign before his lengthy injury lay-off. Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez have also had opportunities, while Jarell Quansah got the nod in the draw with Aston Villa on Monday night.

Despite preparing to turn 33 this summer, Van Dijk has shown some of his best form in a red shirt. Yet Vidić has named three defenders who he believes are ahead of the Liverpool skipper.

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"I like talking about the young ones. Micky van de Ven. He’s fast, strong and good in the air, and has capabilities to really improve. The two from Arsenal [William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães are doing well. Watching them, I feel they like defending and want the clean sheet. I like the mentality they show," he told The Times.

“And they are a partnership. That is important. Arsenal, this season, have not been conceding many goals and the situation when they went to City and didn’t concede — that was a statement of Arsenal as a team. That they want to win the trophy."

Van Dijk is out of contract in a year's time, with Liverpool expected to offer the Dutchman a new deal this summer. And Anfield legend Jamie Carragher believes his performances have been vital to Liverpool's performance this season.

After naming Van Dijk in his Team of the Season, Carragher told Sky Sports: "Without Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool would have been in that fight for fourth with Villa and Tottenham. He has been that important.

"I think about that performance in the Carabao Cup final and he is basically playing with a young lad in Quansah for half of the season. He started it with Matip, then he got injured for the season. He has had four different partners. He has been back to his absolute best, like when he played against Erling Haaland."

Liverpool.com says: Vidic has named three very talented young defenders and Saliba and Gabriel have been excellent for Arsenal this season. But Van Dijk is continuing to lead the way and set the standard. He will go down as one of the greatest Premier League defenders when he calls it a day but that should not be any time soon.