Debates in football are one of the pillars of the game that keep the sport fresh and interesting, and one conversation is seemingly taking over the Liverpool and greater Premier League community.
Try your best to put your rose tinted glasses down, Reds – do you think van Dijk is better than Vidic? 🤔 #LFC https://t.co/7kh0n9kBVY
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) March 24, 2020
The question is simple, who is the better defender: former Manchester United captain and five-time Premier League champion Nemanja Vidic, or Liverpool star and runner-up in the 2019 Ballon d’Or Virgil van Dijk.
Who is the better defender?
Virgil van Dijk
Nemanja Vidic
To a neutral supporter, or Rio Ferdinand, the answer will likely be Vidic as the Serbian defender was one of the most feared defenders in the history of the Premier League, as the former Inter Milan star led United to multiple league titles and European glory.
Van Dijk, meanwhile, has realistically only been at the top of his game for the past two years, yet many Liverpool supporters believe the Dutch international is the superior player.
Here’s what lots of Liverpool fans had to say on Twitter about the debate…
Nobody can bully VVD like Torres and few others bullied Vidic. Ferdinand was better than Vidic. Another 2 season likes the past 2..VVD will be a clear cut No. 1 of all time in PL.
— 🅰bhishek 🅱howmik (@imAbhiBhowmik) March 24, 2020
Vvd is better. Vidic was a great player but I cant recall a player with the individual ability that vvd had at cb in the past.
— Nem (@teamed209) March 24, 2020
I hate these debates when ppl start with the, how many leagues did they win? How many clean sheets? etc
These are all team awards
Should be based on individual awards and attributes
Simple question… Is player A better or worse than player B
Yes
Virgil is a far better player— ⭐⭐⭐Jonathan⭐⭐⭐ (@jam6007) March 24, 2020
VVD is the complete CB. I have tried to write how good he his but I cant get all his strengts in one tweet! So i just say, every other CB in the EPL era had a weeknes. But VVD has none. He is the best this league has ever seen and he will keep proving it over the coming years.
— Tommie Vadàszi (@TommieVadaszi) March 24, 2020
Absolutely VVD #1 – better than Vidic by a country mile or three.
— Julian Backhouse (@joolzbee) March 24, 2020
Did vidic ever get close just get pipped by messi to become the best player in the world, not even close
— Lee boulton (@Leeboulton15) March 24, 2020
Van Dijk has been influential for Liverpool this season with the Reds within touching distance of the Premier League title.