Carragher was WRONG to claim Matip has been better than van Dijk

Jamie Carragher was WRONG to claim Joel Matip has been better than Virgil van Dijk this season… Liverpool’s unsung stalwart may lead in duels won and clearances, but he trails in other key areas – although his stats put him above Harry Maguire

• Jamie Carragher says Joel Matip has been better than Virgil van Dijk this season
• Both Matip and Van Dijk have been ever-present for a high-flying Liverpool team 
• The statistics reveal Van Dijk has performed better than his centre-half partner
• Pundit Carragher chose Matip over Harry Maguire in a United and Liverpool XI 
• Maguire has made more errors leading to goals, and Matip has better numbers

It was of little surprise to see Jamie Carragher lavishing rich praise on Liverpool defender Joel Matip – and he was correct to do just that. After all, Matip has enjoyed a superb season and been ever present for his club.

His reward was the former Anfield stalwart claiming that he has been better than Virgil van Dijk this season, a surprising claim indeed but not one wholly without merit. Together, they have formed a formidable partnership.

Ever present across this campaign, Matip has featured in all but one Premier League game. In each of those, the towering centre back has been his typical Rolls-Royce-like self, hoovering up loose balls and hurtling into tackles.

Jamie Carragher said Joel Matip (left) has been performing better than Virgil van Dijk (right)

Former Liverpool defender Carragher has hailed stalwart Matip as ‘top class’ and ‘fantastic’

The end result is a Liverpool side who have conceded six goals in the top-flight so far, a record beaten by just three other clubs. It is a contrast to last term, when injuries ripped Jurgen Klopp’s backline apart for months on end.

So, with their stability back and a title charge in full swing, it is no wonder that Matip and Van Dijk are making the headlines again. The only surprise, however, is that of the two, it is the former who has impressed some the most. 

Carragher, for example, hailed Matip as ‘top class’ and ‘fantastic’. Van Dijk himself has also reserved particular praise for the man in red typically alongside him, calling him a ‘special character’ and an ‘unbelievable defender’ to boot.

Matip has been crucial under Jurgen Klopp (right) and helped Liverpool in their title challenge

But what do the numbers reveal about the duo, and which of the classy defenders comes out on top? It is important to bear in mind that Van Dijk has played an extra game, but all the crucial statistics point towards him performing better.

He leads the way with one more clean sheet, with five to Matip’s four, and both men have been at the back when conceding six goals. From this point, though, Van Dijk takes control, managing more duels, blocks and clearances. 

In the duels department, Van Dijk has made just one more, 56 to a very respectable 55. Again, Matip may have come out on top here if he had played the extra game. The latter has a better duel success percentage, with 65.5 per cent to his name.

Matip has also made more tackles, perhaps in part because of how Liverpool line-up structurally. Van Dijk often finds himself as the last port of call, meaning that, typically, he will be forced to make less challenges across matches.

As revealed by Sofascore.com, Matip has enjoyed an impressive season, with four clean sheets

Meanwhile, it is Holland international Van Dijk who has more blocks to his name, with five to four, and more clearances, having managed 30 to Matip’s 16. In short, the raw numbers needed to be a good defender are close, but Van Dijk shades it.

Another key aspect to Liverpool’s eye-catching style of play is how each player in Klopp’s side uses the ball. In every position, there must be a fluidity in possession, and a confidence to move sharply and play through the lines with precision.

Luckily, both Matip and Van Dijk are adept at this. There is no noticeable drop off when either, or both, of the club’s first-choice defenders are not available, such is the expert coaching offered up by Klopp. This was seen in large chunks last season.

But in this campaign, it is Van Dijk again who takes the crown. With 590 passes to 552, he has been able to play out to his team-mates on more occasions, and it is this silky confidence that helps the whole team to tear their opponents apart.  

Matip’s numbers are bettered than Van Dijk’s, but the latter (R) has also played one game more

Intriguingly, Carragher’s words on Matip and Van Dijk came with a comparison to Manchester United’s main centre halves, namely Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane. In his combined XI, in fact, Matip edges ahead of United captain Maguire. 

As two whole units, pairing Liverpool and United’s backlines together makes for interesting reading. Currently, their fortunes couldn’t be any more contrasting. Klopp’s men are flying high near the top, while United are in the midst of a poor run.

Is this a reflection of their stability in defence, or perhaps a larger issue? Well, the numbers show that both units are well drilled and have performed well, although United’s first-choice centre backs have played together for one game less.

Van Dijk and Matip, as explained earlier, have started seven games together – and finished each of them. As for United, Maguire and Varane have played six games in tandem, although the latter picked up an injury during the international break.

The partnership between Matip (above) and Van Dijk has helped Liverpool push for trophies

For clean sheets, it is Liverpool who lead the way with four. A shaky United have struggled to record shutouts this term, and as a result have just one. This was picked up in their victory at Wolves, although the hosts missed several clear chances.

Interestingly, Liverpool have been forced to engage in more duels, but have largely been successful. They have won 111 in total while also holding a better defensive record, and their counterparts at United have 79 to their name combined.

For tackles and blocks, those in the red of Merseyside triumph again. They have 16 and 10 respectively, further pointing towards their stalwart-like nature at the back. Maguire and Varane, meanwhile, have 12 and nine, albeit with less minutes.

United and Liverpool are locked on exactly 46 clearances when their first-choice centre backs are fielded. This may point towards both teams, despite their differing statistics, being forced to scramble back more than they would like. 

Liverpool’s first-choice pairing at centre back also have the beating of Manchester United’s

Klopp’s two players have won back the ball more times than United in their final third, having robbed possession on 48 occasions. United, contrastingly, have done the same 43 times – although Liverpool press more aggressively from defence.

The one statistic that may make Maguire and Varane wince is the amount of times they have been dribbled past by an opponent. Matip and Van Dijk have been subjected to this just once, while at United, it has happened seven times.

In terms of errors leading to goals, both pairings have tried their best to avoid committing any, although United have stumbled once. Liverpool, keeping up their largely pristine record, have not failed, however, in seven fixtures.

Matip and Van Dijk have conceded three fouls so far, while Maguire and Varane are guilty of five in another slight blemish to their season. Finally, Liverpool’s duo have made 1,029 passes, while United’s have 621 – again showing their different styles. 

Raphael Varane has impressed at United but Harry Maguire (R) has struggled since the Euros

Another area of Carragher’s comparison worth delving into is his preference for Matip over Maguire. It would have been easy for the pundit to side with his favourite club simply as a result of his iconic status there, but the numbers show he is right. 

Again, all of the key attributes needed by a good defender have been examined, and Matip has come out on top in five of the areas. The state of the two clubs’ form must be taken into account, though, as well as the play styles of United and Liverpool.

Matip has engaged in 55 duels, while Maguire is on 48. Both have made eight tackles apiece, and it is the latter who reigns supreme for blocks, with the United captain making eight. His defensively-sound opponent has four to his name, meanwhile.

The numbers also reveal that Matip edges Maguire in terms of the key statistics for defenders

It is Maguire who has won back possession in his own third more times, too, with 28 to 22 – but one of the most crucial statistics has not gone his way. He has made one error leading to a goal, while Matip has not committed any so far this campaign.

Rounding off the comparison, Matip has made less fouls, with his two up against Maguire’s four, and also completed the most passes, 497 to 318. This will please his manager, whose side are renowned for their ability to keep the ball in tight spaces. 

This weekend, United travel to the fiery Anfield cauldron as they bid to return to form in the league and ease the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Varane is expected to miss out, however, but the defenders in action may take centre stage again.

Share this article

Source: Read Full Article