Former Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge believes one legendary defender in particular would have been an ideal partner for Virgil van Dijk.
Dutch captain Van Dijk signed for Liverpool in a deal worth around £75 million from fellow Premier League club Southampton in January of 2018.
He made his debut for the Reds against local-rivals Everton just days later, scoring the winning goal to secure a 2-1 victory in the third round of the FA Cup.
Van Dijk was made Liverpool captain in the summer of 2023, taking over from former teammate Jordan Henderson who had recently transferred to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq.
In resurfaced footage, Daniel Sturridge named John Terry as the ‘perfect defensive partner’ to Van Dijk, speaking fondly of his former Chelsea teammate who he claims is one of the ‘best defenders ever’.
“John Terry was very different to Virgil. Terry was far more vocal in the dressing room, he was the undoubted leader in the dressing room for Chelsea. And [they have] very different styles too.
Terry played in more of a deeper defensive line and we sat back more as a team, in terms of a lower block. Virgil would player higher up. They’ve got different techniques, but they would be an unbelievable partnership. I don’t think it’s one or the other, I think they would be the perfect pair.
I loved playing with both of them, they’ve bot got unbelievable technique, diagonal passes, Terry’s left foot. And Virgil is so effortless. They’re legends of the game and two of the best defenders we’ve ever seen.”
Terry spent the majority of his playing career at Premier League club Chelsea, making just shy of 500 appearances for the London-based club, and won five Premier League titles and five FA Cups during his 19-year spell, as well as the UEFA Champions League in the 2011-12 season.
