'He didn't like it' - what changed for Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool captain now 'best by miles'

'He didn't like it' - what changed for Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool captain now 'best by miles'

Holland legend Ruud Gullit has saluted the job of Arne Slot and how Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is now one of the greats

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot with captain Virgil van Dijk as they celebrate their team's victory and confirmation of winning the Premier League title after the match against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on April 27 2025 (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images )

Holland legend Ruud Gullit believes compatriot Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the world "by miles" as he highlighted the changes made by Arne Slot to elevate the Liverpool skipper among the greats. And the Reds boss has been hailed for transforming Ryan Gravenberch into a defensive midfielder worthy of winning the Premier League title.

Both Van Dijk and Gravenberch have started every game as Liverpool romped to a record-equalling 20th championship, which was sealed with four games to spare on Sunday with a 5-1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur at an emotional Anfield.

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Gullit, who won the European Cup twice playing for AC Milan along with the European Championships with Holland, has previously been critical of Van Dijk, who is also the Dutch national team captain.

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Now, though, the 62-year-old regards Van Dijk has been improved thanks to some subtle changes in his game.

"What he does better now is he goes forward with the ball," said Gullit. "Before, he got the ball and it was ‘wait... wait... and then give the ball to the left-back’ – and the left-back is already under pressure, the ball goes back.

"Also, when the striker drops into midfield, Van Dijk goes on him. Before he was going backwards, now he doesn’t give him any space, and that’s the difference with him.

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"He’s playing fantastically. He’s the best defender – by miles. And I was very critical of him, because of the things I’ve spoken about. He didn’t like it – they don’t like it, because sometimes they are very happy with themselves, but sometimes you need to wake up.... ‘you are the best player – you have to show it, every time'."

Asked how Van Dijk compares to other great Dutch defenders, Gullit added: "Stam. Koeman. Everybody – because it’s not only playing well, but what you stand for, are you organising things around you? Are you making other players better? And this is a much bigger advantage that he has.

"He is coaching in a much better way than before. Before he was coaching like someone on the radio – ‘good pass!’ No! Now, he’s coaching the ones around him, telling them... ‘come to the right, I’ve got you’. Yes! Much better, one of the best defenders we have had in Holland."

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Slot has become the first Dutchman to manager a title-winning team in England, and Gullit believes while the Liverpool boss has benefited from the squad he was gifted by the departed Jurgen Klopp last summer, he has made his mark in several obvious ways.

"He inherited already a very good team," said Gullit. "The club appointed a coach that plays almost the same way as Klopp. There are other details, but at least the intention is ‘that is the way that Liverpool wants to play’.

"What he did unbelievably well was to get Gravenberch to play, when he was not playing for Klopp. Gravenberch has been a revelation this year. He also got Van Dijk to play a little better – because there had been doubts, after his injury. That’s normal, but people were saying: Van Dijk – what is going on? Those were two of the major things that Slot did."

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Speaking at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, Gullit added: "Klopp was rock n roll... ‘We go!’. Slot says, ‘okay, sometimes we defend, we see what’s going on, we wait’. We saw games like this – they wait, they let the opponent have the ball and then they strike on the counter-attack. And that’s football as well – you need to do both.

"So technically, he did well, and he got a lot of players playing much better than they did before. He's a good coach and I’m very happy, because he opens the gate for other coaches from Holland. Everybody’s always looking at Portugal, Germany and Spain. Now, they’re looking at what’s happening in Holland, too."

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