In focus: Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk

Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk has emerged as one of the Premier League's standout defenders - and the stats support his growing reputation.

The 24-year-old started his career at Dutch side Willem II, before moving to FC Groningen on a free transfer in 2010 and then heading to Scotland in 2013 to join Celtic for £2.5m - enjoying two successful, title-winning seasons with the Scottish champions.

Southampton manager and fellow countryman Ronald Koeman lured Van Dijk to the English south coast with a £13m move in September 2015, having failed to sign Toby Alderweireld on a permanent transfer.

Van Dijk took little time to adapt to the English game and has become one of the top-performing defenders in his inaugural Premier League season, consistently making the Sky Sports Power Rankings top 10 and currently sitting 10th in the season rankings.  

But what are the stats behind his success?

Southampton currently sit seventh in the Premier League table and are real contenders for European qualification come May. Van Dijk has played the full 90 minutes of 27 consecutive league games since his transfer from Celtic, helping the Saints keep 10 clean sheets.

The stats suggest the Dutchman excels in all areas of defence: he made more clearances, interceptions and blocks, won more duels and aerial battles, completed more passes and scored more goals per 90 minutes than the league defender average this term.

His six-foot, three-inch frame has helped him win more than five aerials per game on average - three more than the league average. That's more than any other defender. He has also won nearly eight duels per game, compared to the league average of just over five.

The Netherlands international also provides an attacking threat, scoring three goals for Ronald Koeman's men this season. That makes him the league's joint-second top-scoring defender, behind Scott Dann's five goals for Crystal Palace. 

Van Dijk will be tasked with nullifying league leaders Leicester on Super Sunday, and besides shutting out Foxes duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, the Dutchman will also be keen to impose an attacking threat from set pieces. 

Watch Leicester v Southamption live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12.30pm on Super Sunday

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