Manchester City fans are pointing to statistics that say Ruben Dias has had a much greater impact at their club than Virgil van Dijk had when he arrived at Liverpool.
Both defenders hit the ground running with their clubs, Van Dijk being credited with transforming Liverpool's previously leaky defence when he signed in January 2018 for £75 million from Southampton.
Dias, a £62 million summer transfer from Benfica, has instantly strengthened a City defence which is now the meanest in the Premier League.
Comparing 🇳🇱 Virgil Van Dijk's first 23 games (2017/18) for Liverpool to 🇵🇹Ruben Dias's first 23 games for Man City:
— Man City Delhi Supporters Club (@ManCityDelhi) January 21, 2021
Wins: 🇳🇱 13- 🇵🇹 16
Goals Conceded: 🇳🇱 24- 🇵🇹 9
Clean Sheets: 🇳🇱 10- 🇵🇹 15
Time to acknowledge the impact of Ruben Dias. He's the real 👑 pic.twitter.com/1ewaIjtjFz
One City fan pointed out that Dias's stats in his first 23 games are way above what the more experienced Van Dijk achieved in his first 23 games for Liverpool. Dias has conceded just nine goals as City have kept 15 clean sheets, while VVD conceded 24 goals and kept 10 clean sheets in the same span at Liverpool.
Another pointed out that City have conceded just seven league goals this season with Dias in the team - the same number that Aston Villa scored past Liverpool in one match when Van Dijk was still fit.
Ruben Dias in the league this season:
— ²² (@MagnificoMendy) January 20, 2021
1420 Minutes⏱
7 Goals Conceded⚽️
Virgil van Dijk vs Aston Villa:
90 minutes⏱
7 Goals Conceded⚽️
Makes you think 👀 pic.twitter.com/mvOfef7ZgK
I’m neutral but this form of Dias is clear of any Virgil I can remember
— Father Bruno (@Mason2Drippy) January 21, 2021
i’m running out of things to say to describe how unbelievably talented Ruben Dias is, Best CB in world football and it’s not even close. pic.twitter.com/7fCOsM2P2Y
— 𝓛𝓮𝓮🍊 (@IeeSZN) January 20, 2021
This view has provoked a big backlash on Twitter, with many football fans pointing out that Pep Guardiola's defence was in a stronger state when Dias was introduced in 2020 - compared to Van Dijk coming into a team that had Loris Karius in goal (Alisson being signed in the summer of 2018).
Liverpool 17/18 that VVD walked into with Karius Lovren and Moreno was slightly worse than a city side that’s won back to back prems as well as a million other domestic trophies. Not really a fair comparison
— ً (@nabydeco08) January 21, 2021
People using these stats like Van Dijk didn't walk into that team with Karius, Lovren and Alberto Moreno and still get us to a CL final.
— AA (@PrimeSadio) January 21, 2021
Dias on the other hand has walked into a defence with Ederson, Walker, Cancelo and Stones/Laporte. https://t.co/252simlhfT
Funny how one CB walked into the best team in the prem, whilst the other walked into a team with Karius in goal https://t.co/Kn0RqhtbT4
— Felikao (@AlexPot30384135) January 21, 2021
Stop overrating Dias, he’s nowhere near Van Dijk’s level. VVD from 2018-2020 is one of the best defenders of all time, debatably the best 2 year period for a CB ever
— 💯 (@Darkstone901) January 21, 2021
Barely an achievement, Liverpool had Karius between the sticks and an all round weaker squad.... Van Dijk is clear https://t.co/Bq2ncPbvOA
— rovers 🌹 (@BLB_Harry) January 21, 2021
An alternative view could be that Van Dijk had plenty of Premier League experience with Southampton, whereas the 23-year-old City centre-back has come from a new league and settled almost instantly. Which makes his performances incredibly impressive.
The replies from LFC fans are amusing to read. These guys shift the goalposts so much it's unreal. The majority of our backline was allegedly poor pre-Dias but now it's 'PL proven, International players' when we compare the impact Dias and VVD have had respectively🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/HEAGzZAAmo
— Siddhesh Shrikhande (@siddhesh_29) January 21, 2021
Ruben Dias is the best CB on the planet. My Lord and savour pic.twitter.com/7xURid9deY
— Ryan.🇧🇷 (@FavelaFIair) January 20, 2021
Van Dijk's absence with a serious ACL injury has undoubtedly had a hugely damaging impact on Liverpool's season. The 29-year-old is a superb all-round defender but also a leader and organiser who makes all of Liverpool's backline better.
Dias, meanwhile, has formed an excellent partnership with a revitalised John Stones as City look much more assured at the back than last season when leaking goals cost them badly - in the Premier League and in Europe.
10 - Manchester City in all competitions this season with John Stones and Rúben Dias starting:
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 17, 2021
10 games
9 wins
1 draw
1 goal conceded
Bromance. pic.twitter.com/NTUAYUF0WY
Is it unfair to compare Van Dijk and Dias on their opening 23 games for their new clubs? Or is the Portuguese centre-back a future great in his position? Let us know in the comments.
Featured image credit: PA Images
source https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news-reactions-fans-claim-ruben-dias-has-had-a-greater-impact-than-virgil-van-dijk-20210121
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