"He reminds me of myself" - Virgil van Dijk praises Arsenal superstar

In their most recent match at the Emirates, Liverpool and Arsenal drew 2-2, which was not exactly what one might have anticipated between two of the most praised defenses. William Saliba and Virgil van Dijk have received the most of those accolades, and the Reds skipper has been talking about his Gunners rival.

Arne Slot will have benefited from Saliba's absence due to suspension for that match against Liverpool. It's not debatable to state that the Frenchman has established an image as one of the finest in the Premier League, even though goalkeepers Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk himself certainly back themselves to go past any defense.

The greatest compliment you can give William Saliba is that he appears to be the most obvious replacement for Van Dijk right now. With that coveted blend of speed and physicality, he exudes a similar growing sense of authority. Van Dijk has indeed expressed admiration for Saliba. In a recent interview on Rio Ferdinand's podcast, he made this revelation.

The former Celtic defender said, "Obviously, Saliba is making very good steps at the moment. Yeah, he’s on the first one I just have in mind now. You know, he’s a solid one. You know, I think in possession he’s doing a good job."

“I was nowhere near where he was today” : Virgil van Dijk

Additionally, Van Dijk admitted that he and Saliba were similar. In fact, he disclosed that Saliba is more advanced than he was around the same age when Rio Ferdinand urged him. Saliba already appears at home in discussions with Van Dijk regarding the best available, even if center-backs typically take longer to perfect their art.

The former Southampton centre-back added, "Yeah, maybe [he's similar]. You know, I think if I’m honest, when I was that age, I was nowhere near where he was today. And obviously that’s the beauty of football as well. You know, I like to watch other defenders and pick up so many stuff from them. There are so many good ball-players."