Virgil van Dijk is simply the best defender in the world right now.

Liverpool's towering centre-back makes the game look so easy and life for opposing strikers is an absolute nightmare when he is around.

Van Dijk was crowned the PFA Player of the Year for 2018/19 and he has been at his imperious best during Liverpool's record-breaking start to this season.

The Dutchman just oozes class and it seems he also oozes self-confidence on the pitch.

That's because during his time in Scotland with Celtic, Van Dijk supposedly told St Johnstone striker Graham Cummins that he was 'too good'.

“He left the day after we played against them. That’s my claim to fame, that’s what pushed the Southampton deal over the line, that he marked me,” Cummins told the Irish Examiner.

“We were told in the dressing room, stop him, rather than him stopping you. Get behind the ball when he gets it, because he’ll run the pitch no bother.

“The first ball, I tried to sprint with him and he just boshed me out of it. I was out of breath and blowing out of backside and he just turned to me and said ‘I wouldn't even bother, I’m just too good.”

To be fair, he probably has a point.

Many world-class strikers have tried to get the better of Van Dijk in recent years, but all have failed to get the upper-hand over the 28-year-old.

The Dutchman ticks every single box when it comes to being an elite-level defender. He's powerful, lightning quick, has the passing range of a midfielder and is a huge threat from set-pieces.

Speaking objectively, the Liverpool colossus may just be the most complete defender in football history.

While that may sound like hyperbole, there's no denying that the Dutchman will put himself in the mix to be labelled the greatest defender of all-time if he continues his current form over the next five to seven years.