Liverpool’s season has started like a storm, full of late drama, late winners, mistakes that turned into miracles, and players stepping into roles nobody expected them to. Arne Slot, the man who replaced Jurgen Klopp, has already been tested in ways no new Liverpool manager would have wanted. His side have given their fans joy, they have given them heart attacks, but above all they have given them hope. Hope that another Premier League title is not a dream but a real possibility. And in the middle of all the noise and tension, a new comparison has been born. A comparison with Steven Gerrard, the greatest captain in Liverpool’s modern history. But the funny thing is, this comparison is not about Dominik Szoboszlai, even though many thought he was the natural heir to Gerrard’s influence. No, this comparison is about a completely different player, a player who was never supposed to be in Gerrard’s shadow. It is about Virgil van Dijk.
The start of the campaign has shown Liverpool at their best and their worst. Against Bournemouth they were brilliant going forward, scoring four goals, but they also let in two and gave their manager nightmares about how fragile they can look when they switch off. Against Newcastle, the same story. Two goals ahead, comfortable, then suddenly the collapse began, and only a moment of genius from Rio Ngumoha at St James’ Park in the dying minutes saved them. Atletico Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League was another wild ride. Two goals up, looking confident, then the Spanish side struck back with two goals to silence the crowd. For a moment the stadium was frozen in shock, memories of painful European nights came flooding back. But in stoppage time, with the game on the edge, Virgil van Dijk rose highest and smashed a header into the back of the net. The place exploded. That moment was not just about three points in Europe. It was about leadership, about stepping up when nobody else could. It was about a defender deciding that he was not going to let his team fail. That was a Gerrard moment, even if it came from a centre-back.
For years, people said Liverpool needed a new Gerrard. Someone who could inspire, someone who could drag the team out of trouble when the game seemed lost. When Szoboszlai arrived, fans thought maybe it was him. He had the flair, the creativity, the power. He had a rocket of a shot, and he had the hunger to show he belonged in England. His early weeks were tough, and Slot even criticised him in public after a mistake against Bournemouth that led to a goal. But Szoboszlai responded. He became the creative hub of the team, making passes that broke defensive lines, carrying the ball with confidence, and even scoring a stunning 30-yard free kick against Arsenal to give Liverpool three massive points. His numbers tell the story of a player who influences everything, from passes that create chances to runs that drag defenders away. He has even filled in at right-back when needed, showing his tactical intelligence and willingness to sacrifice for the team. Many pundits said, here is the new Gerrard, here is the man who will be the heartbeat of Liverpool. But if you ask the fans who they see as the real Gerrard figure in this team, they will point to Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk is 34 now, and many thought his best days were behind him. He had his injuries, he had his struggles, and last season there were whispers that maybe Liverpool should start planning for life without him. But instead, he has started this campaign like a man reborn. He is not just defending like the old Van Dijk, he is also stepping into the spotlight at the biggest moments. His winner against Atletico was pure drama, a centre-back deciding the outcome like a striker. His leadership is unshakable, his calmness on the ball unmatched. The stats say it all. His passing is among the very best in Europe for defenders. He completes over 91% of his passes, many of them progressive balls that break the lines and set Liverpool moving forward. He wins aerial duels like it is second nature, and he ranks in the 90th percentile for passes that move the game up the pitch. But stats only tell part of the story. What Van Dijk gives Liverpool is confidence, belief, and standards. He is the captain, the one who demands more from everyone, the one who carries the weight of expectation.
Football analysts have even started to say the same thing. Josh Williams called him “outrageous” this season, adding that he takes responsibility the way Gerrard used to. That is the key word: responsibility. Gerrard’s legacy was not just his goals or his passes. It was his refusal to hide, his refusal to let games drift away. He would grab matches by the throat and change them. Now Van Dijk is doing the same, even from centre-back. He is proving that leadership can come from anywhere on the pitch.
Of course, Liverpool’s season has not been perfect. Throwing away leads three times already is not something a title-winning side can afford to keep doing. Slot knows that. He knows his team has brilliance but also fragility. But the difference so far is that every time Liverpool have looked like they might fall, someone has stepped up. Sometimes it has been Szoboszlai with his creativity, sometimes it has been Ngumoha with his youthful fearlessness, and sometimes it has been Van Dijk with his commanding presence. Together, they are shaping a new Liverpool identity. A team that might wobble, but never breaks. A team that still finds a way when all hope seems lost.
The talk of Gerrard is not just nostalgia, it is a reminder of what it means to be a Liverpool player. It means responsibility, leadership, courage in the hardest moments. Szoboszlai has shown glimpses, but Van Dijk has become the embodiment. He is writing his own version of Gerrard’s story, not with long-range screamers, but with towering headers, unbreakable defending, and captain’s authority. His contract runs until 2027, and at this rate, he may still be at the very top until the end of it.
Liverpool fans are starting to believe again. They see a team that is flawed but dangerous, a team that might concede but will also fight until the final whistle. They see in Szoboszlai the creative fire they need, and in Van Dijk the leadership they crave. They see late winners, stoppage-time goals, and the kind of mentality that defined the greatest years under Klopp. They are beginning to whisper that this season could be special again.
The Premier League is long, and rivals like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea will all bring their challenges. But the early signs are clear. Liverpool have found players willing to step up in the big moments. Van Dijk is proving that age is just a number. Szoboszlai is proving that criticism can turn into motivation. And Arne Slot is proving that he can keep this ship steady even when the storms hit.
It may only be September, but already Liverpool’s story this season is being written in drama, late goals, and iconic moments. And in those moments, the comparisons to Gerrard are becoming louder. Not for Szoboszlai, not yet, but for the captain who has reminded everyone why he is still the heart of this football club
