Daniel Agger welcomes the impact of Virgil van Dijk in Liverpool and delivers his verdict on Jurgen Klopp

Daniel Agger praised the defensive transformation that Liverpool has undergone since the signing of Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool broke his transfer record to bring Van Dijk back from Southampton in January 2018 and the central defender has been a huge success at Anfield since he moved out, helping the Reds qualify for the Champions League final and to be in the top four in their first six months.

The 75-million-pound defenseman has had a compelling campaign, helping the Reds' miserly backline to a record 18 league goals.

Regularity witness at the heart of the Liverpool defense, Van Dijk is expected to become the first defender since Nemanja Vidic in 2011 to win the title of Premier League Player of the Season.

Such a form has led to discussions about his position among the world 's best defensemen and Dutch captain Van Dijk is the favorite of the players' standings to be named PFA player of the year.

Agger, who played 232 games with the Reds in eight years, was extremely impressed by the impact of the world's most expensive central defender at Anfield.

"He changed not only the defense, but the entire team," Agger told ECHO. "It's definitely what Liverpool has missed in the past two seasons.

"So he has changed a lot just with his presence and he looks to be a good leader.He's also a good footballer.That's a good combination.

"I think he has improved the whole team, but we have Alisson also in goal and he has also changed a lot.

"It's important to be able to count on someone you can rely on and feel comfortable with, especially for the advocates."

Agger was part of the last Liverpool squad to have played the Premier League title with Brendan Rodgers in 2014, but he was playing for Rafa Benitez's team where the Dane established his reputation among the Reds fans.

Agger admits that Benitez and Jurgen Klopp are two very different personalities, but the former former Reds defender is a big fan of Liverpool's current manager.

He added: "They are different, they are two different characters with different ways, but I like Jurgen well.

"I really, really love his mentality and the way he shows up and he is always behind his players, demanding a lot of them and that 's what you need as a manager. . "

Agger will be the art of Liverpool legends when he meets his counterparts at AC Milan in a match for the CFL Foundation at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.