Championship striker names Liverpool star as hardest opponent

Leicester City strike Patson Daka has hailed a Liverpool star as the toughest defender he has ever faced, labelling him "smart" and "strong".

The Zambian international has come up against the Reds on seven separate occasions during his time at RB Salzburg and Leicester - more often than any other English side.

Unfortunately for the 25-year-old, he has lost all of his clashes with Jurgen Klopp's side, failing to score against the Reds during his career so far.

One of the reasons behind his unwanted record against Liverpool is Dutch colossus Virgil van Dijk, who has featured in five of Daka's seven meetings with the Reds.

Van Dijk kept three clean sheets in those five clashes, perhaps one of the reasons that Daka has named the Liverpool captain as the hardest opposition defender he has come up against.

Speaking after winning the Championship PFA Fans' Player of the Month award for December, Daka was asked to name the best defender he has ever faced.

The forward replied: "Virgil van Dijk. He’s smart, his physique, he is strong."

It's hardly surprising given the number of times they have faced off and Daka's difficult record against the Reds, especially considering that the 32-year-old has rediscovered his best form this season.

Only Arsenal have conceded fewer goals than Liverpool in the Premier League this season, with Van Dijk instrumental in the Reds' resurgence under Klopp this term.

With Leicester flying in the Championship table having already hit the 75-point mark, there is a good chance that Daka and the Liverpool skipper face off against one another in the Premier League next season.

Hopefully it won't be eighth time lucky for the Leicester sharpshooter.

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