'Goodness': Arsenal legend says he'd love to have played alongside Liverpool player who's 'never fazed'

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Liverpool have been the best team in the Premier League by some distance this season under Arne Slot.

The Dutch coach has taken Jurgen Klopp’s final Liverpool squad to new levels with Mohamed Salah arguably the best player in the world right now with Slot also getting a tune out of the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo.

With Liverpool six points clear of Arsenal and Nottingham Forest with a game in hand, the Premier League title is the Anfield side’s to lose, with the Reds in the driving seat as Slot has managed to squeeze every ouch of quality out of his team.

And Arsenal legend Martin Keown has said there’s one Liverpool player he would have loved to play alongside during his playing career.

Keown lauds Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk’s calmness and mentality

Speaking on TalkSport, the former Highbury defender noted how he would have loved to partner Virgil van Dijk at the back, with the Liverpool captain showing this season why he’s still one of the best centre-backs in the world.

With Michael Owen lauding Van Dijk’s mentality after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United on the weekend, the Dutch international has aged like a fine wine under Slot this season, with the defender ever-present in the Reds’ starting XI.

READ MORE: Everything to know on Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk from his tattoo to net worth

And Keown shared how he would have loved to have played with the Liverpool defender during his career, with the pundit saying: “Goodness, I don’t think anyone would complain [about] playing with Virgil van Dijk!

“He plays on that left side, I liked to play on the right. I particularly like that he’s never phased in possession. He gets onto that right foot, he plays off like a stationary platform, he just pings things out to Salah. What a great target he is.”

Van Dijk has shown why Liverpool need to throw the bank at him

Van Dijk’s contract has been a big talking point this season, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, with the Liverpool defender currently set to become a free-agent at the end of this season.

Although Van Dijk is believed to be close to a new Liverpool contract, a delay has seemingly held up the official announcement, with supporters hopeful that the deal can be publically declared at some point this month.

Indeed, Van Dijk has shown this season why he is worth a new premium contract at Liverpool, and the Anfield side know they can rely on the Dutch international for many years to come based off his form this campaign.