BBC pundit Garth Crooks has described Virgil van Dijk as a 'once in a generation' defender following his performance in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the weekend.
Much of the talk leading up to Saturday's game had centred around whether or not Van Dijk would be able to contain the physical threat of Romelu Lukaku - a question he answered in emphatic fashion.
The Dutch defender has looked back to his best in the opening three Premier League games of the season and looks to have put his lengthy injury behind him.
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As well as limiting Chelsea to opportunities in the final third on Saturday, the 30-year-old came close to scoring in the second-half with a drive from distance that called Edouard Mendy into action.
Crooks praised the influence of the Liverpool defender at both ends of the pitch as he named Van Dijk in his Premier League team of the week.
"If the shot that had Mendy frantically scrambling across his goal-line was anything to go by, then it looks like Van Dijk's right knee has fully recovered from the injury he sustained against Everton last season," he said.
He added: "The Netherlands international is slowly but surely coming back to the boil. Not only is he commanding his own penalty area again, he is venturing forward more and becoming a threat in the opposition box. Defenders like Van Dijk come around once in a generation."
Only Tottenham Hotspur (0) have conceded fewer Premier League goals than Jurgen Klopp's side so far this campaign, with Thomas Tuchel's side currently the only team to breach the Liverpool backline after three games played.
