Jamie Carragher has weighed in on the debate surrounding Virgil van Dijk and Ruben Dias.
The Dutchman has been colossal at the back for Liverpool since joining from Southampton in January 2018.
Since his arrival at Anfield, the Reds have won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and their first League Championship for 30 years.
While Dias joined City from Benfica for £65m last summer and has been instrumental in his side’s success so far this season.
The debate around the pair reached a peak last night after Manchester City booked their place in the Champions League final with a win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad.
And Carragher believes the fact Dias doesn’t possess Van Dijk’s natural physical attributes makes his debut season even more impressive.
“In the other semi-final you’ve got two of the greatest centre-backs of their generation hopefully playing in Thiago Silva and Ramos, they’re coming towards the end,” he told CBS Sports.
“We have seen Van Dijk over the last couple of years win the Champions League. I think the new breed is coming and this guy [Dias] is a massive part of it.
“The biggest thing for a centre-back, in terms of body position, I think he’s the best by a long way in the Premier League.
“I think in his first season that he has produced at Man City, I think he’s at that level. What I would say is that Van Dijk has been blessed with physical attributes that Dias hasn’t so in some ways I’m more impressed with Dias.
“When you watch Van Dijk, it’s like watching a Rolls-Royce, you just think the way he moves.
“Most players don’t have that and Dias probably hasn’t got that so probably has to concentrate more and be side on constantly.”
