Following Sunday’s League Cup final, in which Liverpool beat Chelsea to lift the trophy for the 10th time, football fans have been left arguing amongst themselves as to who was better, Virgil van Dijk or Vincent Kompany— and the debate is as furious as it is funny.
The Dutch centre-back scored the only goal to win the EFL Cup for the second time and once again proved to be the difference for Liverpool, but his decisive action also sparked the debate amongst Scousers and more as to where he lands amongst the greatest Premier League centre-back of all time.
Well, it wasn’t much of a debate for half of Merseyside, as a number of posts on social media were quick to proclaim van Dijk as the very best in history, brushing past plenty of other options like John Terry, Nemanja Vidić and more, but most notably it would seem, Man City legend Vincent Kompany.
Safe to say people on both sides are staunchly defending both center-halves just as much as each other and it’s produced some classic online footy fan discussion and downright outrage in some cases.
The 32-year-old’s trophy cabinet now includes two EFL Cups, a Premier League title and the Champions League, an FA Cup; a Charity Shield, the UEFA Super Cup and a Club World Cup, not to mention multiple personal accolades.
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By no means a bad haul whatsoever, but now let’s compare it to Kompany‘s tally here during his time in Blue: four league titles, four EFL Cups, two FA Cups and a pair of Charity Shields. More domestic success certainly, but van Dijk’s done it in Europe too — depends on how you weigh everything up.
One of the key differences noted by many supporters between the two in the wake of van Dijk’s man-of-the-match performance was that whereas he scored a winner in the Carabao Cup, Kompany scored an absolute iconic screamer to go top of the league and effectively beat Liverpool to the title in 2018/19.
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As for scoring winners in cup finals, many a player has achieved that feat (defenders included) and beyond just the current Burnley manager himself, the floor has also been opened plenty by fans who think there is a laundry list of other names that come ahead of the Liverpool star.
No, lol. Nemanja Vidić (4x TOTY, 2x POTY), Rio Ferdinand (6x), Tony Adams (4x) Vincent Kompany (3x, 1x), Sol Campbell (3x) John Terry (4x), Jaap Stam (3x) & Gary Pallister (x7) all have cases or are clearly better than van Dijk.
I’ve been saying it for years so don’t think it’s reactionary. Van Dijk is the best centre back I’ve seen in the Premier League. Everyone loves nostalgia and never give players their flowers until they’re gone. I watched Terry, Vidic and Kompany get clowned regularly. Not him.
We’re not even going to pretend to have an answer to this one, we’re just going to sit back and enjoy the to-and-fro whilst waiting for the next one to inevitably roll around soon enough.
All we will say is that Kompany captained one of the most dominant sides this country has ever seen and we’ll comfortably stick our neck out and say that ‘Vinny, don’t shoot!’ moment wasn’t just better than VVD’s extra-time header but is probably one of the most iconic goals in Premier League history.
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So go on then, who do you think will go down as the better defender, Virgil van Dijk or Vincent Kompany?
Manchester Storm’s record-breaking return to AO Arena goes down a storm with fans
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Storm have made their grand return to the AO Arena, after more than two decades away from their former home.
And it appears the ice hockey craze (which may have been spurred on by a certain Heated Rivalry) is here to stay, with record-breaking numbers piling into the venue for Sunday’s match against Sheffield Steelers.
The AO Arena has now shared that a record crowd of 11,000 fans attended the long-awaited Manchester Storm homecoming last week.
The action has gone down a storm with fans, with plenty of chatter on social media (and videos of a certain fight) doing the rounds.
Manchester Storm’s homecoming has now smashed the record for an Elite Hockey pre-season fixture, with fans travelling from across Manchester and beyond.
As the team enters this new era, bidding farewell to the ‘Storm Shelter’ in Altrincham that’s been their home for a decade, demand for tickets is continuing to grow.
This is the first time fans have been able to see the club on the ice at the AO Arena since 2004, and last weekend they thrilled supporters with a 5-5 draw agains the Steelers.
Manchester Storm is now set to bring approximately 35 games to the city centre each year, providing a regular programme of major sporting events for Manchester and its visitors.
It also brings elite-level hockey back to one of Europe’s largest indoor sporting arenas.
Gemma Vaughan, General Manager at the AO Arena says, “Tonight is a hugely significant moment for Manchester.
“To welcome Manchester Storm back to their former home after more than 20 years, and to do so in front of a record Elite Hockey League crowd, is incredibly special.
“The response from supporters has demonstrated the strength of Manchester’s passion for ice hockey and the demand for world-class sport in the city. We’re proud to be able to provide a home for the Storm as they begin this exciting new chapter.”
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Danny Jones -
26th February 2024 
