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Jamie Redknapp: 'Virgil van Dijk will help take Liverpool to next level'

Former midfielder Jamie Redknapp claims that January signing Virgil van Dijk will help take Liverpool towards the level required to challenge for the Premier League crown.

Former midfielder Jamie Redknapp has suggested that Liverpool required a new centre-back more than they needed to keep Philippe Coutinho at Anfield.

At the start of 2018, Liverpool confirmed the arrival of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, before Coutinho was allowed to join Barcelona in a deal worth over £140m.

The departure of Coutinho is regarded as a significant blow to their hopes of closing the gap on the two Manchester clubs, but Redknapp has claimed that Van Dijk is capable of taking Liverpool to "the next level".

The 44-year-old told Sky Sports News: "They sold Coutinho to Barcelona for a huge fee, £146m, and have brought in Virgil van Dijk for £75m - a player they badly needed. Ultimately, they needed a centre-back more than they needed Coutinho.

"If they can get Van Dijk to the level they're hoping they can get him to and he can be the leader they need in that defence, then he can elevate them to the next level. And then, next season, they can look to compete with Manchester City.

"Given Liverpool's strength in attack and weaknesses at the back, it looks like it has been a great trade for them."

Van Dijk is expected to make his Premier League debut for Liverpool when they face Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Monday night.

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in action for Liverpool on November 1, 2017
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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