Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has suggested that Virgil van Dijk has his Liverpool teammates to thank for the plaudits aimed his way.

Van Dijk is widely considered to be the best centre-back in world football after starring for Liverpool in his two-and-a-half seasons at Anfield.

The Netherlands international won the PFA Player of the Year award last season and finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d'Or and FIFA's Best voting.

However, Stam feels that Van Dijk's job has been made easier by the performances of his colleagues.

"Virgil has been very good. But the thing that people don't always understand is that the teammates you have around you make you very good as well," he told Goal.

"As a player you need to have the ability and the quality to get to the top and that's what he has.

"But having quality people around you sometimes makes life a little bit easier for you as well and it makes you look like you are one of the best in the world.

"That was the same for myself and for other good centre-backs. That's how it goes in football."

Van Dijk, a £75m signing from Southampton in January 2018, has made 113 appearances for the Reds in all competitions.