Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk believes his Dutch teammate Ryan Gravenberch has become a world-class player at Anfield this season — praising his superb performances under Arne Slot.

Gravenberch has already played around 800 more Premier League minutes under Slot than he did under Jurgen Klopp, still with 16 more fixtures to come before the end of the season. And with the 22-year-old having made the number six position his own, he won't be being displaced any time soon.

"Last year, he didn't play as much but we could all see his quality," Van Dijk told reporters at Anfield this weekend. "For him, it was key to keep his head down and work his socks off. This year, he has the trust and the confidence to show his quality week in, week out, every three or four days.

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"I'm very impressed with him, not only on the pitch but you also see the other qualities that he has as well. He's still a young boy but he is growing into a man. The way you approach the game on and off the pitch is very key to being a world-class player.

"If you analyze the consistency he is showing, he is definitely a world-class player, and he can only become better as well. He just has to keep working and keep enjoying because he is in a very good place.

"He has been almost flawless all season. He had a little bit of a difficult first half against Newcastle against that midfield, but he learned from that, and you have to learn from difficult moments. I'm proud of him and pleased for him — not only for him but for us as well. He is a vital player for the way we want to play."

Van Dijk was asked about fellow Dutchman Cody Gakpo, too, after he notched a brace against Ipswich Town. "Last season he was already doing very well but he is a very important player," Van Dijk said.

"Having him and Lucho [Luis Diaz] on the left wing is only a positive thing because they push each other. Cody is an outstanding professional with exceptional qualities and he has been showing it on a consistent basis. That's the most difficult part of football: doing it on a consistent basis. As a team, we are doing that. Cody is definitely as well."

With Liverpool leading 3-0 at half-time, the Reds were able to cruise across the finish line. The likes of Jayden Danns and Wataru Endo, who haven't played much this year, were able to come on and give a rest to some key men as well.

"To keep everyone fresh, very important," Van Dijk said. "Even now, knowing we play PSV on Wednesday, there will probably be some rotation and other players can have the opportunity to play in the Champions League. These things are good to do.

"Everyone is needed. These moments where players can come in and have their opportunity, that is important. The manager is using these opportunities as well.

"The manager came in the summer and it takes time to know everyone inside out. He is doing that with the way he approaches the game and bringing players on who have different qualities to others. Then it is up to us as players to show what we can do on the pitch.

"I think the manager said in the meeting that the last eight goals we scored, seven of them were scored by substitutes. We are all in this together."

Van Dijk was denied a clean sheet when Jacob Greaves got a consultation late on for Ipswich, but hit 300 appearances for Liverpool by featuring in the game. "I'm very proud," he said.

"My family and my kids were here today so that was a special day. It was a good win so now we focus on the next one. There will be a day, one day, when I will reflect on everything that happened to me at Liverpool and have a proper think about what stands out, but hopefully there are still things to come."