Liverpool are into the Champions League quarter-final, coming away with a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. It was hardly a vintage display from Jurgen Klopp's side, but they outplayed a Bayern Munich team that looked largely devoid of quality.
While their attacking play was unconvincing, it was a strong defensive performance. Apart from Joel Matip's own goal in the opening half, Liverpool didn't really give the German champions a sniff.
Of course, much of that was down to Virgil van Dijk. He put in his usual dominant display at the back, but he also came up big on the other end of the pitch. While Sadio Mane's opening goal was a magnificently well taken effort, the pass from van Dijk to set him away wasn't half bad either.
Van Dijk ➡️ Mané 🔄 Neuer ➡️ ⚽️🥅
WHAT A GOAL FROM SADIO MANÉ!#BAYLIV #UCL #VMSport pic.twitter.com/4pnElwehE8— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 13, 2019
Virgil van Dijk really got bored of being a world class defender so decided to become a world class playmaker too. What a pass for the opener. He’s outrageous.
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) March 13, 2019
Not content with dominating at the back and turning provider for his teammates, he would also get on the scoresheet himself.
With the game starting to become a very nervy affair with just over 20 minutes to go, the big Dutch defender stepped up to give his team the all-important second goal. It was a bullet of a header, and you could see what it meant to Liverpool.
"Watch him defend, and we watch him score!" 🎶
Virgil van Dijk puts Liverpool back in front with a brilliant header! 🔴#BAYLIV #UCL #VMSport pic.twitter.com/jpmUyIY5MN— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 13, 2019
Social media couldn't get enough of big Virgil:
Genuinely run out of words to describe Virgil Van Dijk. There’s just no one who comes close to him at the moment
— ' (@GerrardsPrime) March 13, 2019
Virgil Van Dijk deserves a statue, a stand he training ground and the whole stadium named after him
https://t.co/gPmHbucV74— B/R Anfield (@lfc_allting) March 13, 2019
I really, really, really hate to say this as someone who has always disliked Liverpool, but fucking hell Virgil van Dijk is one of the most dominant centre backs I’ve ever seen.
— Tom Todhunter (@tdhntr) March 13, 2019
Virgil van Dijk undoubtedly Liverpool’s best player. Undoubtedly.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) March 13, 2019
Sadio Mane would make absolutely certain of the result in the closing stages, grabbing his second of the game. It will be van Dijk that grabs the headlines tomorrow, however, and he is fully deserving of every accolade sent his way.
Widely ridiculed at the time, the £75m fee that Liverpool parted with to secure his signature is looking like more of a bargain with each passing game. If The Reds are to bring silverware back to Anfield this season, you get the feeling that their number four will be the deciding factor.
