Van Dijk: Still more to come from Saints defence

Southampton’s defence have been a force to be reckoned with this term but Virgil van Dijk is still eyeing further improvement.

The Saints kept six consecutive clean sheets at one point earlier in the season, while no other side outside the Premier League top five has conceded fewer goals.

That defensive solidity has helped them to tenth in the table, while they also lie second in Group K of the Europa League.

“It’s been a lot of games but we’ve all enjoyed it and I think it’s a good thing that the whole squad has been involved as well,” said van Dijk.

“We will take every game as it comes but anything can happen in the Premier League. That was proven last year and I think it’s going to be the same this year.

“It was a slow start to the season but we’ve done well as a team defensively. We want to keep improving, keep getting better and I think we will.”

Photo credit: Getty Images

Van Dijk has been a bastion of consistency since joining Southampton from Celtic in the summer of 2015 and notched his first goal of this campaign against Inter in the Europa League at the start of November.

And the 25-year-old Dutchman claims he takes pride in leading the way for his team-mates.

“In the position I play, I think you need to be an example for a lot of players any way and a leader for the team,” added van Dijk.

“I want to be vocal for the team and try to get everybody ready.”