Peter Crouch's verdict on Liverpool pair makes mockery of Gary Neville claim

Peter Crouch gave Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate the praise they deserve after the pair were recently dismissed as the Premier League's best center-backs.

Liverpool's defensive pairing has been on fire this season and already played a major part in forming the Premier League's best defense, having limited the opposition to scoring just two goals in seven games in 2024-25.

The next best defenses are Arsenal's and Nottingham Forest's with each conceding six goals, yet it remains four more than Liverpool's in as many games. Without Konate and Van Dijk , however, it's unlikely the Reds would have such an impressive record.

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Considering they have conceded four fewer goals than Arsenal's center-back pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba, it's fair to say Konate and Van Dijk have a fair shout at being labeled the Premier League's best in their position. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville recently thought differently, however.

Ahead of Arsenal's draw with Manchester City on September 22, the former Manchester United defender claimed Saliba and Gabriel are "the best two center backs in the country" , understandably causing some uproar among the Anfield faithful. Thankfully, however, former Reds striker Crouch recently set the record straight.

"He's (Konate) as good as anyone around. I always judge center-halves (on whether) I'd like to play against them - Konaté and Van Dijk, I couldn't think of many worse defenders to play against," Crouch said on TNT Sports ahead of Saturday's game with Crystal Palace.

"He (Konate) chips in with goals, he has made the odd error but I feel like he's cutting them right down, he looks calmer on the ball and he is so difficult to play against with his pace and strength. He wants to go and attack absolutely everything."

Crouch quite clearly made a mockery of Neville's claim, and although the former Red Devils has a reasonable argument, dismissing someone of Van Dijk's stature, in particular, as one of the best defenders in the Premier League was a bold move.

The Liverpool captain may be 33-years-old but he is still at the very peak of his physical powers and showing no signs of slowing down. Konate, meanwhile, is getting better with every passing week and has impressed manager Arne Slot so much that he is set to be offered a new contract , according to reports.

Arsenal's Saliba even recently claimed Van Dijk remains "the boss" in an interview with L’Equipe earlier this year, saying: “Van Dijk has aura, for example. He’s the boss, he commands everything. You feel he scares attackers, but I’m starting to feel the same way.”