Virgil Van Dijk might have won the PFA player of the year award after a stellar showing this season but a Manchester City supporter has unearthed statistics to suggest that the Liverpool centre-back has still to reach the standard set by Vincent Kompany in his prime.
Kompany, 33, has still to agree a one-year contract extension at the Etihad but has proven his worth to Pep Guardiola with key performances against Manchester United and Burnley as the Blues eye a maiden Premier League title defence.
The Belgium international, an £8million signing from Hamburg in 2008, has been totemic over the course of his ten-year City career but was particularly feared by Premier League strikers between 2010 and 2013, before persistent injuries began to curb his involvement.
Kompany was part of the Blues side that won the FA Cup in 2011 - a precursor to their first league triumph in 44 years the following season - and stats found by Twitter user @saucysterling7 highlight Kompany's influence during that time.
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The Premier League statistics that suggest Kompany's influence was more pronounced when it came to tackles, interceptions and blocks than Van Dijk's output this season, with Liverpool chasing City for a first league title since 1990.
The Blues will retain the league crown for the first time in their history with maximum points from their remaining two games, with Pep Guardiola's side hosting Leicester on Monday night before a trip to Brighton for the season finale on Sunday, May 12.
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