hopefully with progression in
Europe and the domestic comps,
we’re going to need everyone
of them to keep performing as
they have. The wins over New
Year highlight that perfectly.
You won’t get two more testing
games for centre-halves, in the
conditions we saw during the
turn of the year, than we had.
Dejan, Joel and Ragnar did as
much, if not more, than anyone
in helping us get the six points.
Add Joe Gomez, who is an
international-standard centre-
back, playing at full-back at the
moment, and our quality in that
position is tremendous. These
lads are all outstanding leaders in
their own right.
There was a brilliant picture
from the Burnley game of
Dejan and Ragnar celebrating
after Raggy had headed in our
stoppage-time winner.
You then had Joel sprinting
onto the pitch after being
brought on in the dying seconds
to make sure we saw it out. It’s
impossible to understate the
respect we, as the rest of the
squad, have for these lads as
players and people.
Aside from welcoming Virgil,
I also want to give a mention to
my pal Adam Lallana. Turf Moor
was his first start for Liverpool
this season and I can tell you,
given the amount of time we
spend together, it’s a moment
both he and the team have been
looking forward to.
There’s no secret that Adz and
his family are very close to my
own and it has been hard for him
having to sit and watch these
opening months of the season.
He lives and breaths football
more than any other person
I’ve met.But the impressive thing is
that not for one second has he
felt sorry for himself. He’s been
in and around the lads during
that time, offering support and
advice. At a time when he’d have
been entitled to be a bit distant,
due to missing big games and
big moments, he’s been the
opposite. He’s been in amongst it
and that’s why he’s so important
to this club, on and off the pitch.
His sprint back and tackle
at Turf Moor in the opening 20
minutes or so got a massive
reaction from the crowd and it
summed up what he’s all about.
I’ve no doubt 2018 is going to be
a massive year for him, now this
injury set-back is dealt with. But
maybe a trip to the hairdresser to
get that barnet trimmed down is
the final thing he should consider- and I know I’m not alone in
thinking that!
Our centre-backs
have been brilliant