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Ademola Lookman of Atletico Madrid celebrates. Copyright: Imago<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Super Eagles and Atletico Madrid winger Ademola Lookman<\/a> has named Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk as one of the toughest defenders he’s faced in his career, Soccernet.ng reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n The 28-year-old started his journey to professional football with Charlton Athletic. However, the next few years were tough for him, especially in the top-flight of English football. While there were glimpses of the talent he possessed, he just couldn’t find the consistency in delivery. Additionally, Lookman was largely misprofiled.<\/p>\n Some coaches played him as a striker, others forced him out wide on the flank, until Gian Piero Gasperini found out the Nigerian thrives in the mix of both.<\/p>\n It took spells at Everton, Leicester City, Fulham and RB Leipzig before the 2024 CAF Player of the Year found his feet in Bergamo with Atalanta.<\/p>\n Get Our Sports News First \u2013 Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n In a recent interview with ESPN UK<\/a><\/strong>, the Atletico Madrid forward revealed his toughest outings have come against the captains of Liverpool and Chelsea, respectively.<\/p>\n Ademola Lookman has played against the Dutch centre-back six times, although he was on the winning side just twice, and in both games, he scored.<\/p>\n One of those came in 2021, when Leicester City sealed a narrow 1-0 win over Liverpool, where Lookman came off the bench to score the game’s only goal, leaving Van Dijk wowed.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he had a little bit too much space at first and we let him use his strength \u2013 he\u2019s a good dribbler and unfortunately the goal went in,\u201d Virgil said after the game, as revealed by Tribuna<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBut still, we had moments that we reacted in, we created chances and should have done better but overall I think Leicester can be proud of their performance and you have to give them credit as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Three years ago today \ud83d\udd19<\/p>\n 2021 \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f<\/p>\n Ademola Lookman scored the Winner against Liverpool \ud83d\ude0d<\/p>\n What a player, wish we paid the money in the summer to bring him here permanently <\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/3ewCVj1zfK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Leicester Xtra (@XtraLeicester) December 28, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Reece James has been regarded as one of the best right-backs in the English Premier League when fit. The Englishman has played against Lookman on three occasions, coming on top twice.<\/p>\n The Nigerian’s only win against James came earlier this season, in the UEFA Champions League group phase clash against the Blues. Atalanta sealed a 2-1 win.<\/p>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/MBR_xn6dOx0tgbM-CiN3Une8Ohk=\/4008x2672\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F04%2Fimago1076775740.jpg\")
Soccer Van Dijk and Reece James \u2013 Lookman’s toughest opponents<\/h2>\n
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