Micah Richards names 'outstanding' Liverpool man who Arne Slot upturn hinges on

Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have both been in good form lately for Liverpool, with Arne Slot's men seemingly heading in the right direction in multiple competitions

Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have played well of late.(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is the key man behind the Reds' recent upturn in form, according to Micah Richards. The soccer pundit has been very impressed by the Dutchman in recent weeks.

Ibrahima Konate has stepped up since his return to the side, with Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai also among those in form of late. But Richards has picked out Van Dijk for praise.

"I think when Van Dijk plays well, the team plays really well," Richards said on The Rest Is Football podcast. "Konate, after losing his dad, has put in some really good performances as well.

"But I just think when Van Dijk plays well at the back, the whole of Liverpool plays well. If he has an off game, because everyone relies on him so much, it ruins the whole team.

"It really does because they’re so used to him being perfect in every single game. If you look at him, the last couple of games he’s been brilliant; absolutely outstanding alongside Konate."

Van Dijk has started every game this season for Liverpool aside from the two in the League Cup. Approaching the age of 35, he remains a key man.

Liverpool defenders Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

"Vital, of course," Arne Slot said on Friday when he was asked about Van Dijk’s importance to his team.

"Not even looking at the amount of options we have at centre-back because if he’s not playing, there are no options left. The same for Ibou [Konate], by the way, although Joe [Gomez] is coming back now.

"[Virgil] has been fit every single time — and I’ve said this before, how big of an accomplishment that is for a player of his ‘age’ because he’s not the youngest anymore, [but he] plays every three days.

"That’s not a coincidence because if I look at how much work he puts in on a daily basis to recover, to be ready for the next [game] immediately when the game finishes until the moment the next game starts.

"I’ve said before it’s always harder to stay fit in this season where you [as a] team and he as well have had so many setbacks.

"It tells you a lot about what he does off the pitch in recovery, but definitely also about his mental strength that he’s able to stay with the team.

"And not only stay with the team, but also bring in bringing in very good performances and leading the team, as he always does on and off the pitch, by example. That is what he did on Wednesday night in Sunderland."

Liverpool.com says: Van Dijk is still the benchmark for center-backs. Though he isn't at his peak any more, he remains an elite defender, and his consistency means that sometimes gets forgotten or taken for granted.