“Would bring a dominance to the team” – Gary Neville says Virgil van Dijk’s addition could strengthen Manchester United

Manchester United is all set to take on table-toppers Liverpool on Sunday at their home ground, Old Trafford. Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has picked Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk as one player he would pick in the Red Devils’ squad.

Neville reckons the Dutchman’s presence could strengthen Manchester United while previewing the match along with Jamie Carragher for Sky Sports.

“Van Dijk would bring a dominance to the team, a presence, that we haven’t got. We haven’t got a forward as good as Mohamed Salah but we’ve got talented forwards. We say there’s no Roy Keanes anymore, there’s no Vincent Kompanys anymore, there’s no John Terrys anymore… there actually is one now at Liverpool.”

“You think about he’s performed this season. He’s a massive presence on that pitch. He’s not the same character as some of those that I’ve mentioned maybe but he actually is quite dominant on the pitch and he does actually speak a lot more than maybe people think and he actually has got an aura about him.”

Neville reckons van Dijk will be able to get the best out of players like Kobbie Mainoo, Antony, and Marcus Rashford and can guide them on the right track.

“And I think that if you want to change Manchester United’s complete and utter culture, they need that dominant person that holds them together. I think that Van Dijk would control [Kobbie] Mainoo, even someone like Antony and [Marcus] Rashford. I think he would build them, not break them.”

Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool in 2018 and since then has won eight trophies with the Reds. The lanky defender has made 259 appearances for the club.

Liverpool is at the top of the points table with 67 points whereas Manchester United are placed sixth with 48 points.