Liverpool were crowned Champions League winners on Saturday evening after seeing off Tottenham at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano. It will come as little surprise to many that one of the stand-out performers was defender Virgil van Dijk, who capped a marvellous season with another excellent display.
What was more surprising was the way in which Liverpool played. Buoyed by an early penalty, converted by Mohamed Salah, the Reds sat back and opted for a primarily defensive set-up. That only increased the importance of the presence of the Dutch defender, who continued to lead by example and organise the backline.
This tactical analysis uses statistics and analysis to consider the key elements of Van Dijk’s performance, from defensive to offensive as he proved pivotal at both ends of the pitch.
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