The Reds came dangerously close to signing the incredible centre-half and were forced to apologise in 2017 for ‘tapping him up,' as Liverpool approached the Dutch defender without the permission of Southampton.
The Saints later reported the Anfield club to the Premier League, which resulted in an apology from Liverpool and the cancellation of their interest in signing him that summer.
Six months later, Liverpool signed the 6ft4 colossus for a world record fee paid for a defender, paying Southampton £75 million, which has turned out to be a huge bargain.
Liverpool transformed from an exciting counter-attacking side capable of only challenging for the top four to one of the best teams in Premier League history and the only team capable of dethroning Manchester City.
Van Dijk had the greatest impact of any signing at Liverpool, and he is widely regarded as the best January signing of all time.
The summer in which the club was forced to apologize to Southampton was a huge opportunity for Chelsea and Manchester United to sign the Dutchman, and allowing Liverpool to sign him will be one of the biggest regrets both clubs have in a decade's time.
United went on to sign Harry Maguire for £80 million – £5 million more than Liverpool paid for van Dijk – highlighting the difference in the two clubs' transfer market efficiency.
He's already won the Champions League, Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup, and there's no telling what he'll win in the rest of his time at Anfield.
He's the whole package. Not only is he one of the most aerially dominant centre-halves I've ever seen, but he's also a better passer than most midfielders in England and scores goals with ease.
The only thing he lacks that players like Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos have is longevity.
He hasn't been at the top for as long as the Spaniard, Chelsea's John Terry, or Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, and that may be the only knock on him when the inevitable talk of the greatest ever centre-back arises.
Van Dijk, who is already 29, has only been at the top since he was 26 and missed an entire season due to an avoidable anterior cruciate ligament injury, but that shouldn't matter.
I've never seen a centre-back make defending top players look so easy while also playing 60-yard raking passes with the ease of Toni Kroos or Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool will be looking to return to the top of the Premier League table next season after key personnel injuries decimated their first title defence in three decades.In fact, each of the eight Liverpool players who played at centre-back this season sustained at least one injury while doing so.
Any improvement on that shocking luck will almost certainly result in the Reds bouncing back in a big way.
Man utd
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