Liverpool players have joined up with their national teams for the second time this season.
The Reds have 16 current first-team stars away all over the world over the next 10 days or so.
The only nation to feature more than one member of the Liverpool squad – not including loan players – is the Netherlands, who boast three.
Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch have been two of Liverpool’s best performers under countryman Arne Slot so far, while Cody Gakpo has had his moments, too.
Van Dijk was ‘outstanding’ last time out against Crystal Palace, scooping a deserved man of the match award.
And as the 33-year-old prepares to lead his nation out yet again, Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Micky van de Ven has spoken out on the prospect of partnering the Liverpool captain.
Micky van de Ven excited by Virgil van Dijk partnership.
In a parallel universe Van de Ven is already partnering Van Dijk at club level as well as with his country.
Liverpool were heavily linked with Van de Ven before he made the move to Tottenham in the summer of 2023.
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There were even claims that Van de Ven was a Liverpool supporter after images surfaced from an old trip to Anfield with his father.
In the end, though, the 23-year-old joined Tottenham, where he has done well so far.
His good performances in the Premier League have also led to Van de Ven accumulating eight caps for the Netherlands under Ronald Koeman.
And with the Oranje in action against Hungary and Germany between now and Monday, the centre-back has been looking ahead to the games for ESPN Netherlands.
Asked about the prospect of partnering Van Dijk once again, Van de Ven admitted that he was looking forward to it.
“He’s a fantastic defender, so I wouldn’t mind playing alongside him,” said the Spurs man.
Micky van de Ven not needed at Liverpool
While some supporters will have been disappointed by Liverpool’s failure to sign Van de Ven in 2023, we’re not sure that there is justification for that.
The young centre-back is clearly a talent and showed his quality with an incredible assist for Brennan Johnson against Manchester United in September.
But while he would have been good next to Van Dijk for Liverpool, he is not a better defender than Ibrahima Konate.
Konate has come into his own this season and is once again looking like one of the best centre-backs in the whole of Europe.
While Van de Ven is a good player, we simply don’t think he’s on that level. Obviously, he’s looking forward to playing alongside Van Dijk, but it isn’t something he should get used to.