Virgil Van Dijk names ‘underrated’ Liverpool star 

Liverpool centre-back, Virgil van Dijk has named Sami Hyppia as the club’s ‘underrated’ player during his time at Anfield.

Van Dijk said this while including Manchester United and Chelsea legends in his list of the Premier League’s top five centre-backs of all time.

The 30-year-old shared his list in conversation with Rio Ferdinand on the BT Sport YouTube channel on their show Between The Lines.

He said, “I can’t do it (put myself in), but hopefully, I will be in the top five one day.

“I think you [Ferdinand] could play in the modern era, back in the say you were so important for that United team. All the England centre-backs looked up to you. I think you were an icon as a defender.

“Similarly, a fantastic captain [Vincent Kompany], good on the ball, good without the ball. Scored important goals during his City career. Scored a very important one against Leicester when we almost won the league. Great guy and he was outstanding.”

Van Dijk then picked Chelsea’s John Terry and Manchester United’s Jaap Stam to round out his great five.

He added, “He achieved so much – I think he has the record for clean sheets. Also, one of the centre-backs you look at for where you want to be as a youngster.

“He [Sami Hyppia] is a Liverpool legend. He was underrated, in my opinion. Very good player and good on the ball. So important for the club and in an important period.”