Champions League Player Focus: Virgil van Dijk vs PSG | OneFootball

Liverpool 0 – 1 (1-1 agg) – Champions League 2nd Leg Man of the Match

Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool FC

The second leg of this titanic encounter was a cagey affair which almost switched the roles of aggressor and defender (from the first leg), with Liverpool showing more enthusiasm to score as PSG held on to their early taken goal. The stage was set under the famous Anfield lights for an amazing display of world-class football, however, the game state felt more like a concerned international where little flowed and the rhythm was often absent from each team’s efforts.

With the game drifting from end to precarious end, the match seemed to perch on a knifed edge for an exhausting amount of time as good players struggled to make an impact, whereas sensational attackers failed to deliver across ninety minutes of play. The tense atmosphere within the Merseyside stadium was held together by two goalkeepers who would continue to close out the offensive desires of their adversaries, however, it was the commanding performance and leadership of Liverpool’s skipper, Virgil van Dijk, which shone brightest under those famous lights.

The need for calm was evident as the minutes ticked by and avenues began to open up at either end of the most famous of footballing surfaces. The former Celtic and Saints central defender, VVD, was imperious and dominant throughout this game and stood firm against the most dangerous forward line in the Champions League. Whether it be the need to match stride for stride or head the ball back across the ground, the giant captain of the Reds was a colossal who refused to accept failure.

As the tie descended into extra time, the tired legs of both sides were clear to all, which made the experience and character of a few vital to the players in red.

Ratings and man of the match awards undertaken without consideration of the resulting penalties. Elimination or progression cannot take away from the performance within 90 minutes of play.

Steven Smith’s Pre-match Prediction;

Liverpool 2 – 2 PSG