This Week in Stats: Virgil van Dijk debuts for Liverpool in style

Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool career began in fairy-tale fashion. He scored the winner against Everton on his debut, but what else did we learn?

For many people in England, the most romantic weekend of the soccer season is the first weekend in January. That’s because it’s when the third round of the FA Cup is held. It’s when the big boys enter the fray, and face potential embarrassment. Lower league opposition have nothing to lose and a place in history to gain, so can be hideous opponents for top sides.

For the first time since 1950-51, no non-league sides made it this far. There were still some interesting ‘David and Goliath’ ties, though. Some were safely negotiated by the Premier League teams; Newcastle breezed past League Two leaders Luton Town 3-1, while West Brom won 3-0 at Exeter. Others proved more tricky; Stoke lost at Coventry, and Leicester drew at Fleetwood.

The tie of the round took place on Friday, though, and not just because it was a Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton. With Phillipe Coutinho on his way to Barcelona, all eyes were on the Reds’ £75 million debutant, Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutch international is now the most expensive defender in the history of the game. Liverpool had a decent first half of the season, but it may have been even better if van Dijk had signed last summer as Liverpool intended.

No pressure, eh? How did the former Southampton man’s debut pan out under Anfield’s Friday night lights?

van Dijk illustrated what he will bring to Liverpool

It was unlikely Van Dijk was going to have a huge amount to do if Everton’s last trip across Stanley Park was anything to go by. The Toffees had just four touches in the Liverpool box that day; a team has only had fewer five times in a Premier League game this season.

Sam Allardyce’s team weren’t quite so passive in this match, even if Liverpool were always going to dominate the ball. It will have pleased Jürgen Klopp that despite having 61 percent possession his side made 17 tackles to Everton’s 13.

Virgil van Dijk was responsible for just one of them, but plenty of his other statistics looked impressive.

Defending stats are notoriously difficult to assess. So much of the role is about positioning, anticipation and timing, and numbers struggle to illustrate those aspects of play.

Take aerial duels; van Dijk may have won five against Everton, but Lovren won 11 at Burnley in the preceding match. Does that make him better in the air? Not necessarily, it just means the Croatian had more defending to do.

The above tweet doesn’t mention clearances, either. While van Dijk made four, all of which were outside the Liverpool penalty area, Joel Matip made seven, including four in the Reds’ box.

Virgil looked calm throughout his big night

But Matip is also a good reference point when looking at what van Dijk will bring to the team. The Cameroon international was a highly coveted acquisition when he joined on a free. He has generally played well for Liverpool, but he has been guilty of anxious play at times, too.

This was seen in the Reds’ previous home match, when Matip’s hurried pass to Emre Can saw Leicester gain possession and ultimately take the lead. The former Schalke man looked by far the nervier of Liverpool’s center-backs against Everton, with van Dijk exuding composure throughout.

Liverpool have needed a leader at the back for a long time. Jamie Carragher retired five years ago, and there has been a lack of authority in the Reds’ defense ever since. Van Dijk showed glimpses of taking charge immediately.

This was apparent when Everton sent long balls and crosses between the Liverpool defense and goalkeeper. Loris Karius was reluctant to charge forward and claim them, but van Dijk was bellowing at him to do so.

Simon Mignolet is also far from a sweeper-keeper, so he too can expect a mouthful from van Dijk in future games. It’s no wonder Liverpool have been linked with signing a new goalkeeper.

Of course, van Dijk’s main contribution was his winning goal. He joined a list of impressive names who also scored in their first appearances for Liverpool.

Next: 5 potential replacements for Coutinho

Did Liverpool deserve to win?

Liverpool won 2-1 for the third consecutive match for only the second time in their history. Was the victory merited? The shot map and expected goal data from the match certainly imply the Reds were worthy winners.

What’s interesting was both sides scored by utilizing the opposition’s strengths. Liverpool have scored the most counter attacking goals in Europe’s big five leagues this season. Yet it was Everton who broke quickly from a Liverpool corner to equalize.

The Toffees have scored just one counter-attacking goal (in the opinion of Opta) in the league all season. Based on the beauty of pace and movement in this goal, they should get more.

Massive credit has to go to Phil Jagielka for the goal. How often do you see 35-year-old center-backs charging the length of the pitch to assist a counter-attack goal? Jagielka began the move by clearing Liverpool’s corner.

Similarly, Allardyce’s teams have always been renowned for their strength on set pieces. Only three teams in the Premier League have conceded fewer set piece goals than Everton in 2017-18.

The home side won the match thanks to a header from a corner, though. Liverpool’s other two clear-cut chances (aside from the penalty) originated from dead ball situations, too.

But it was van Dijk’s header which proved decisive. He became the first player ever to score on his debut in a Merseyside derby and win. If ever there’s a way to begin repaying a record transfer fee, that has to be one of the best.

Tougher challenges lie in wait. Manchester City are Liverpool’s next opponents, and the Reds’ defensive issues have generally been on the road. Whatever happens in the future, though, Virgil van Dijk gave Kopites a night to remember on his debut.