1418 days after the Merseyside derby in which Everton’s Jordan Pickford injured Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, the topic is still being discussed.
Now it’s the turn of journalist René van der Gijp, who has revived the old argument in defence of the Liverpool man this week in comments relayed by Mee Met Oranje.
Van Dijk was the subject of conversation on Vandaag Inside after reports this week that Ronald Koeman had flown to Liverpool this summer to speak to the defender.
The centre-back had hinted he was considering his international future, and even his future at Liverpool, following the Euro 2024 semi-final defeat to England.
Van Dijk has had something of a strained relationship with the national team in recent years, where his status as captain has often been questioned as he’s struggled to live up to the levels he’s set at club level.
He faced plenty of criticism during the Netherlands’ run in Euro 2024, hence his comments that he would be thinking about his future after the disappointing loss to the Three Lions.
Van der Gijp is willing to forgive any past problems, though, and wants to remind everyone that Van Dijk’s perceived struggles are actually because of the infamous tackle from Everton’s Jordan Pickford.
“When I saw him playing football against Manchester United… Koeman would also like to see him that way,” started Valentijn Driessen.
“Koeman of course said that to him at the European Championship, but he didn’t do it then.
“Now Arne Slot has said: if you want to continue with this, you will have to play differently. He does that now too. He is much more direct, further forward, dares to pass the ball and not that eternal bit wide.
“At that level, losing five percent due to a serious injury is quite a lot,” added Van der Gijp, referencing the injury against Everton.
“Depay also had the same. He had a serious injury and then returned very quickly. Since then…,” concluded Driessen.
