Jordan Henderson is absolutely right after playing a key role in the transfer of Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool

If Liverpool wins a first league title since 1990, then Virgil van Dijk will win much of his success.

Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, the Reds' well-feared offensive trio, have resumed the same path as they stopped last season, scoring 34 of their 54 league goals to date.

But it is in defense that the team of Jurgen Klopp has experienced a huge improvement, a back line built around the Dutch captain yielding only 13 times in 23 games.

Van Dijk costed £ 75 million 13 months ago and lost little time in making an impact.

Klopp's men conceded 28 goals before his Premier League arc in 2017-18, and only 10 of 15 games after his debut in a 1-0 loss to Swansea City.

In the first half of last season, they conceded more than 1.2 goals per game. With Van Dijk in the group, he fell to 0.66 goals per game and this season, this rate has further decreased to 0.57 goals per game.

The arrival of Alison and the continued maturation of Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold have certainly helped.

But this is Van Dijk, the 6 foot 4 inch power plant, fast on the ground, dominant in the air and calm under pressure, which made the difference, with the Dutchman who became the first defender in six years to elect a PFA player of the month in December.

It sparked controversy over his departure from Southampton – the Reds were forced to apologize in the summer of 2017 for "catching" Van Dijk – blurring in the background with his demonstrations.

These displays have also led, in some circles, to suggest that the transfer fees of the world record for a defender were actually inexpensive, although many said that it was too expensive when his change for Anfield was announced. .

And a man who played a key role in Liverpool's landing, Van Dijk was the club's captain, Jordan Henderson.

The Anfield recruiting team, led by Michael Edwards, observed the Dutchman in action for Southampton and did due diligence on the half-center, Henderson – who shares an agent, Neil Fewings, with his now teammate – has repeatedly said, according to Joe, his feelings that the club should move heaven and earth to bring Van Dijk.

Henderson saw his place in the Liverpool midfielder supplanted by another new rookie, Fabinho, this season.

But the English international has had the foresight to see that the Van Dijk and Alisson arrivals would have a huge impact, not only on his side, but also on the opponents lining up against the Reds in the tunnel narrow of Anfield.

With four points ahead of the Premier League standings, it is proving its worth.