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Soccer

"Has he ever got a sweat on this season?" | Souness celebrates van Dijk's brilliance

Former Liverpool captain and legend Graeme Souness joined Friday's OTB AM to celebrate the role...



Soccer

"Has he ever got a sweat on this season?" | Souness celebrates van Dijk's brilliance

Former Liverpool captain and legend Graeme Souness joined Friday's OTB AM to celebrate the role played by Virgil van Dijk in the club's most recent success, and speculate upon what this collection of players may yet go on to achieve together. 

At the heart of Liverpool teams that achieved astounding success across the late 1970s and 1980s, Graeme Souness is well used to the sight of the Merseyside club winning all around them.

Nevertheless, as he joined Friday's OTB AM to reflect upon last night's Premier League triumph, he admitted that there was something a little special about the 30-year wait for a domestic title coming to an end.

In his role as a television pundit, it has been impossible for Graeme Souness to ignore what Jurgen Klopp has done in reshaping the club's fortunes over recent seasons.

After Chelsea's defeat of Manchester City finally confirmed that the Premier League title would be visiting the club for the first time on Thursday night, he speculated upon what may yet be in store for Liverpool and its supporters.

"I expect them to be challenging every years for some time to come," he explained. "With that team, the structure of the football club and the manager they've got, I expect over the coming years that Liverpool will be the team you have to be better than to win the Premier League and the Champions League.

"Granted, the challenge hasn't really been there this season. Yet, when you're a player or manager, all you can concentrate on is your own job and there was no easing up. That takes some doing."

Virgil van Dijk

While this latest success is the product of much hard work, Souness couldn't but commend the role that has been played by Virgil van Dijk in turning Liverpool from a team with plenty of promise to the real deal.

"Liverpool were transformed from a team that might get to finals to being the favourites," he remarked of the immediate difference van Dijk made.

"I was hoping I'd get the chance to interview him last night and when I was thinking beforehand about what I would ask him, I was going to ask him if he ever got a sweat on this season.

"At the end of games, I'd look at his shirt and there's no sweat. He looks like he's just jumped out of a shop window - he is a proper film star with plenty going for him but he's a real player too.

There is plenty for Liverpool fans to get stuck into from Friday's OTB AM. Listen back to Graeme Souness, Mark Lawrenson, Phil Thompson, Jason McAteer and Team OTB's own reaction to the long-awaited success. 

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Graeme Souness Liverpool Premier League Virgil Van Dijk