Steven Gerrard: Virgil van Dijk has improved Liverpool FC defence

Liverpool FC centre-half Virgil van Dijk Photo: Virgil van Dijk / Instagram

Steven Gerrard believes Virgil van Dijk has helped to improve the Liverpool FC defence.

The Reds signed the Netherlands international in a club record £75m deal from Premier League rivals Southampton in the January transfer window.

Van Dijk became the world’s most expensive defender after the 26-year-old finally completed his move to the Anfield outfit.

The Dutch centre-half has been partnered with both Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip in the current campaign, providing some much-needed consistency at the back.

Liverpool FC boss Jurgen Klopp has stuck with Loris Karius in goal and the German goalkeeper has produced some decent performances between the sticks.

The Merseyside outfit have keep six clean sheets in their last nine games in all competitions to underline the improvements since Van Dijk’s arrival.

Former Liverpool FC captain Gerrard is encouraged by the Reds’ recent defensive performances.

“I think what they’ve cut out is silly errors,” Gerrard told BT Sport.

“The mistakes are getting less frequent and I think Van Dijk has certainly been a big help.

“And I think also the goalkeeping position has been very settled because Jurgen was changing it a bit.”

Liverpool FC were 5-0 winners against Watford at Anfield last weekend after Mohamed Salah’s four-goal haul.

The Reds booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier this month thanks to Liverpool FC’s 5-0 aggregate win against FC Porto.

Liverpool FC are in second place in the Premier League table and two points behind Manchester United.

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