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Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Liverpool, September 2021.

Watch: Van Dijk applauds Fabinho & Thiago’s slide tackles like proud dad

Planet Football •

Virgil van Dijk may not be Liverpool captain but he’s a natural leader and showed the sort of encouragement he gives his team-mates as Thiago and Fabinho made great sliding challenges against Wolves on Saturday afternoon.

Liverpool did not have the easiest of Premier League games on Saturday at Molineux, where they took on Bruno Lage’s determined Wolves side.

Jurgen Klopp’s men huffed and puffed for the full 90 minutes without any reward, relying on another injury-time goal from their super-sub Divock Origi to take the three points and temporarily move to the top of the table.

The Reds’ struggles were not for the want of effort though. Their midfielders showed a fine combination of grit and quality, with Thiago Alcantara particularly good.

And as Liverpool searched for their winner, both Thiago and his mate Fabinho displayed their commitment with full-blooded challenges in the middle of the park.

In footage that emerged on Monday, it is possible to see both challenges from an angle behind the Wolves goal. And as the midfield pair steam into the tackles – both winning the ball fairly – Virgil van Dijk can be seen in the background, clapping like a proud parent on the park on a Sunday morning.

The video is indicative of the sort of support the big Dutch defender gives to his colleagues at Liverpool and will only do more to boost his reputation with Reds fans. If his reputation needed boosting, that is.


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