Virgil van Dijk's arrival at Liverpool gave the Reds the "ability to defend" according to ex-Arsenal star Lauren.
However, the former Gunners defender doesn't believe the £75million Dutchman is better than his ex-team-mate Sol Cambell.
PFA Players' Player of the Year Van Dijk has been linchpin behind the best defensive record in the Premier League this term, with Liverpool shipping just 22 goals all campaign as they racked up 97 points to finish as runners-up to champions Manchester City.
Van Dijk was instrumental in helping the Reds keep 21 clean sheets and will be vital when they take on Tottenham in the Champions League final on Saturday.
Lauren, who was part of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' team of the 2003-04 campaign, hailed the impact Van Dijk has had since he joined the Reds from Southampton in January 2018.
The world's most expensive defender has transformed Liverpool's backline, says Lauren, but the former Cameroon international picked Campbell over the Netherlands skipper when asked by American Gambler .
"Van Dijk has improved the Liverpool defence, as Liverpool were very good going forward in the first year under Jurgen Klopp but they had big problems defending," he said.
"Van Dijk has been super and given them the ability to defend, but I’d have to say Sol was the better player because he proved that with Tottenham that he was one of the best, he proved with England that he was one of the best and at Arsenal he was a top player.
"So I have to stick with Sol Campbell. Sol didn’t just win one Premier League, but won it twice. Sol Campbell was one of the best defenders in the history of football."
A former right-back himself, Lauren made 184 appearances in the Premier League across a nine-year career in England, winning two titles and four FA Cups during his time with Arsenal and Portsmouth.
And the 42-year-old believes Liverpool's current incumbent at right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold , is the best player in his position in world football right now.
The 20-year-old defender has enjoyed an incredible campaign for Klopp's side, helping the Reds to the best defensive record in the top flight while also chipping in with as many as 16 assists in all competitions.
Lauren thinks the Reds have the finest right-sided full-back on the planet after watching him closely this term.
He added: "He is a very very good player, he’s intelligent and reads the game well and he goes up and down.
"It’s a shame for [Hector] Bellerin [at Arsenal] because I like Bellerin and he’s had injuries over the past few seasons, because his progression was fantastic, but at the moment Alexander Arnold is one of the best if not THE best right back in the world.
"There are a few other good right backs but he is the one that has been outstanding."
Both Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold are expected to start against Spurs in Madrid on June 1.
Lauren was speaking exclusively to AmericanGambler.com
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