The Netherlands international was the match-winner for the Reds against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night with a 92nd-minute header at the Kop end to secure a 3-2 victory in the Champions League.
It was the 29th goal of Van Dijk’s career at the club, with the No.4 – who is now into his third season as captain after signing a new contract in April – also reaching the appearance mark of 325 games.
Named in the 2024-25 PFA Premier League Team of the Year after he led Liverpool to the title last term, his outstanding form has continued in the opening weeks of the season with Arne Slot’s team winning all of their last five matches.
“At Liverpool a lot of people get called legends, because they have won the league or the Champions League, there’s lots of them,” said Carragher as he reflected on Van Dijk’s latest display.
“But if you want to differentiate between, I call them giants of the club.
“I’m talking like Stevie [Steven Gerrard], Kenny Dalglish, [Graeme] Souness, Alan Hansen, John Barnes, Mo Salah, the top sort of seven or eight players.
“Without a doubt he is right in the middle of that. And he’s not at the bottom of the list, I can assure you.
“He will go down as one of the greatest players ever to play for Liverpool – not one of the greatest centre-backs, one of the greatest players.”