'I'd go further' - Michael Owen makes Rio Ferdinand claim about Virgil van Dijk

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen thinks Virgil van Dijk is the greatest centre-back to ever play the game.

The Dutchman's arrival at Anfield has coincided with the Reds' incredible rise, helping the team win a Champions League in 2019, a Premier League in 2020 and the Carabao Cup this season.

More silverware appears to be on the cards for Liverpool in the coming weeks too, as they are in the FA Cup final, in a battle with Manchester City in the Premier League and set to qualify for another Champions League final too.

Speaking ahead of Liverpool's semi-final second leg against Villarreal in the European Cup, Owen and fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand discussed the best defenders in history. The former thinks the greatest will be on the pitch in Villarreal on Tuesday night.

"I’d go further and say he’s the best centre-half of all time," said Owen when asked why Van Dijk is better player than Ferdinand was.

"He probably scored a few more goals, we’re not talking much because we’re talking about the greatest here. Rio was the best centre-back I had ever played with. Van Dijk, as a centre-forward I look at him and think ‘what do you do against him?’ He’s bigger, faster, stronger than everyone, he’s brilliant on the ball, scores goals, I’ve never seen anything like it.

"The only thing that goes against him at the moment is his winners' medals. One league, one Champions League. People like Rio, [Paolo] Maldini, [Paolo] Baresi, people you consider as the greatest have numerous so, that’s the only thing. As a one-off, I think how can you get any better than him."

Ferdinand added that he was "happy to be in the conversation" to be considered one of the finest defenders ever and while he didn't make as bold a claim as Owen, he said