ARNE SLOT has opened up on the remarkable story of the time he played against Virgil van Dijk back in 2013.
Liverpool boss Slot incredibly lined up against his now-club captain during a Dutch league game some 11 years ago.
SLOT TALKS ABOUT PLAYING AGAINST VIRGIL VAN DIJK IN 2013 đ´
The new Liverpool boss tells Rog âVirgil was lucky that I only came in 10 minutes before the end ⌠thatâs why he could keep a clean sheet.â
Opponents 11 years ago, now top of the table together at Liverpool đ pic.twitter.com/WKVwNZxNXy
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) October 18, 2024
Arne Slot has discussed what it was like to play against Virgil van Dijk[/caption]
Slot, 46, has impressed massively since taking over at Anfield this summer, with the Red top of the table and conceding just two league goals in seven games.
No small part of his success is thanks to the imperious Van Dijk who has long been one of the best centre-halves in the Premier League â if not the world.
But Slot once faced off against Van Dijk when the Netherlands international was rising through the ranks in his home country.
The pair came face-to-face in 2013 during a match between Slotâs FC Zwolle and Van Dijkâs Groningen in the Eredivisie â a clash that ended with Groningen winding up 1-0 victors.
Discussing that day with Men in Blazers, Slot joked: âVirgil was lucky that I only came on 10 minutes before the end. Thatâs why he could keep a clean sheet.â
Slot â who was a midfielder during his playing days â hung up his boots at the end of that season, while Van Dijk was just starting out his career and was only 22 at the time.
Even with his wealth of experience under his belt, Slot couldnât have predicted that a young Van Dijk would one day be one of the best centre-backs around.
He added: âEverybody thought that Virgil was a very talented and good centre-back, but it was a bit strange that no top clubs came in for him.
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âHe had to go to Celtic first and then to the Premier League to become such a star player for Liverpool.
âIf you would have asked me back then âwould you expect him to be the new centre-back at Liverpool?â, I probably would have said no.
âIf you would have asked him âdid you expect to play against your new manager?â, he would probably have said no as wellâ.
Slot will be hoping his star defender is on top form when his side welcome Chelsea to Anfield on Sunday.
The league leaders will need to be on top form to stop Enzo Marescaâs transformed Blues.
Only Manchester City have scored more goals than Chelsea in the league this season with the Stamford Bridge outfit bouncing back from a lacklustre campaign last term.
Van Dijk has been crucial to Liverpoolâs defensive stability this season[/caption]