Sami Hyypia believes Virgil van Dijk is a Liverpool leader - and skipper Jordan Henderson and vice-captain James Milner are benefiting as a result.
Van Dijk has become a key figure in the Reds team that won the European Cup last season and are currently eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
His outstanding form has seen him named PFA Player of the Year and UEFA Player of the Year, and be among the favourites for the Ballon d'Or.
And Hyypia, the former Liverpool centre-back and skipper who won eight major trophies during a 10-year stay at the club, has explained how Van Dijk is making a difference to his colleagues.
“He’s not got the armband, but he has all the attributes of a leader,” said Hyypia.
“You don’t need the armband to be a leader or an important character on the field or in the dressing room.
“We needed a leader and, when Virgil arrived, he filled that void.
"In my opinion, Jordan Henderson and James Milner are a good captain and vice-captain, but it’s not enough to just have two – you need maybe four or five.
“Virgil was a good addition to that and he took the weight off the other two captains."
Hyypia, speaking to the Mirror on behalf of Carlsberg, official beer of Liverpool FC, added: “He gives a lot of confidence to everyone, is always talking on the field and makes everyone around him play better.
“For me, he’s the last piece of the puzzle in the search for the first Premier League title.
“Attacking-wise, we were going in the right direction, but, in defence, we needed him to close the circle.”
