Ex-United defender wants Van Dijk to make one key improvement

Joe Williams

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand thinks that Virgil van Dijk has to become “a leader” for Liverpool if he wants to justify his huge price tag.

The Dutchman cost the Reds a whopping £75million from Southampton in the January transfer window after months of speculation.

It has been a crazy beginning at Anfield for the former Celtic centre-back as he scored in his Liverpool debut to beat Everton in the FA Cup, while also being involved as Jurgen Klopp’s men suffered a couple of defeats against Swansea and West Brom.

However, despite the feeling at the Merseyside club being positive at the moment, Ferdinand still thinks Liverpool need a leader and that Van Dijk can be that man.

“This is what I want to see more from him,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.

“That defensive nous that he’s got, this figure that he has to become, winning your headers.

“In this league you’ve got to be dominant and aggressive and push people around and be a leader.

“I think he’s got to fall into that category of being the leader of this team.

“This is what they’ve been lacking, he has to become that.

“£75million, he didn’t make the price tag but he’s got to go a way to justifying that.

“Not just through performances, but by being that man on the pitch.

“Vocal, bullying people around and running that changing room.”