Jamie Carragher raves about Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk | OneFootball

Liverpool booked their place in the final of the Carabao Cup after beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 on Thursday night at Anfield in the second leg.

The Reds were trailing 1-0 from the first leg, and needed a strong performance. They took a 1-0 lead at half time, and added three more after the break, as Tottenham looked bereft of ideas.

Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk scored for the Reds who are flying under head coach Arne Slot.

It was a total domination from Liverpool, but what has pleased Slot more was that they not only managed to keep a clean sheet but also didn’t allow Spurs to have a clear-cut effort on target, apart from one or two rare occasions.

Van Dijk has been simply imperious once again, and Jamie Carragher was full of praise for the Dutch defender after the game.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher says that Van Dijk is not only the best defender in the Premier League, but he is also currently the best in the world.

He says that the way Van Dijk does everything effortlessly suggests that he is too good for the highest level of football.

Carragher said: “The thing about it he is the best (in the Premier League). But it is not even a debate.

“This nonsense about like all the other great defenders, he is so far above it. It’s a joke. Football is that easy for him.”

Liverpool need to renew Van Dijk’s contract

It is difficult to compare players of different eras, but there is no doubt that Van Dijk is arguably the best centre-back in the Premier League at the moment.

He has been playing at a top level for the past six or seven years, not only in the Premier League but in Europe as well.

While Carragher spoke about Van Dijk’s defensive qualities, Slot was more impressed with the Dutchman’s leadership on the pitch. He leads by examples.

Van Dijk has a contract at Liverpool until the end of the season, and Liverpool cannot afford to lose him for free. He still has got a few good years left in him.