It was of little surprise to see Jamie Carragher lavishing rich praise on Liverpool defender Joel Matip – and he was correct to do just that. After all, Matip has enjoyed a superb season and been ever present for his club.
His reward was the former Anfield stalwart claiming that he has been better than Virgil van Dijk this season, a surprising claim indeed but not one wholly without merit. Together, they have formed a formidable partnership.
Ever present across this campaign, Matip has featured in all but one Premier League game. In each of those, the towering centre back has been his typical Rolls-Royce-like self, hoovering up loose balls and hurtling into tackles.
Jamie Carragher said Joel Matip (left) has been performing better than Virgil van Dijk (right)
Former Liverpool defender Carragher has hailed stalwart Matip as ‘top class’ and ‘fantastic’
The end result is a Liverpool side who have conceded six goals in the top-flight so far, a record beaten by just three other clubs. It is a contrast to last term, when injuries ripped Jurgen Klopp’s backline apart for months on end.
So, with their stability back and a title charge in full swing, it is no wonder that Matip and Van Dijk are making the headlines again. The only surprise, however, is that of the two, it is the former who has impressed some the most.
Carragher, for example, hailed Matip as ‘top class’ and ‘fantastic’. Van Dijk himself has also reserved particular praise for the man in red typically alongside him, calling him a ‘special character’ and an ‘unbelievable defender’ to boot.
Matip has been crucial under Jurgen Klopp (right) and helped Liverpool in their title challenge
But what do the numbers reveal about the duo, and which of the classy defenders comes out on top? It is important to bear in mind that Van Dijk has played an extra game, but all the crucial statistics point towards him performing better.
He leads the way with one more clean sheet, with five to Matip’s four,…
Source : dailymail
