{"id":124757,"date":"2023-11-28T12:51:21","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T12:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/11\/28\/virgil-van-dijk-labels-liverpool-teammate-the-complete-package\/"},"modified":"2023-11-28T12:51:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T12:51:21","slug":"virgil-van-dijk-labels-liverpool-teammate-the-complete-package","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/11\/28\/virgil-van-dijk-labels-liverpool-teammate-the-complete-package\/","title":{"rendered":"Virgil van Dijk labels Liverpool teammate the \u2018complete package\u2019 \u2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk labelled teammate and deputy skipper Trent Alexander-Arnold the \u201ccomplete package\u201d in the wake of Saturday\u2019s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander-Arnold was tasked with keeping City winger Jeremy Doku quiet at one end of the pitch before popping up at the other to score the Reds\u2019 late equaliser.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe offers a lot defensively and, obviously in possession, he has qualities that are very special and he shows that as well, so he has the complete package,\u201d Van Dijk assessed in post-match comments to reporters at the Etihad Stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has to keep doing what he\u2019s doing, keep improving, keep that high standard he has for himself and we all have for him as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Van Dijk\u00a0contextualised the quality of Alexander-Arnold\u2019s performance by his comments on Doku, who racked up four assists and scored in City\u2019s recent 6-1 thrashing of Bournemouth.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think everyone this season, as a defender, one-v-one against Doku will have a tough afternoon. He\u2019s a very good dribbler,\u201d the centre-back explained. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think [Alexander-Arnold] had a tough afternoon on the whole. It\u2019s how you defend them together and try to get two-v-one in situations and, in the end, I\u2019m pleased for him that he got the equaliser.\u201d<\/p>\n

City midfielder Bernardo Silva conceded after the game that\u00a0Liverpool\u00a0are \u201cback\u201d, having had a poor 2022\/23 season by their own recent standards and failing to qualify for the Champions League.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we should have won. But when you play a team like Liverpool, this season they are back being very competitive again,\u201d\u00a0Silva reflected.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe expected it after a tough [2022\/23] season for them. We knew their energy was going to be back so it\u2019s going to be tough, not just with them but Arsenal, Spurs. But we are also ready to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

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