Liverpool player turning like an oil tanker – Dropping deeper to hide it

There’s a growing trend in the Netherlands at this moment in time; media personalities questioning Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.

The Liverpool captain has been in the firing line for a while with his nation, but particularly after the World Cup. He was seen as the cause of their problems in the summer and a big part of the reason it all went wrong.

That’s something he’s already bitten back at, going toe to toe with the journalist responsible for some of the harshest criticism in a press conference last week.

The question about his international future was raging long before that, though. Van Dijk didn’t particularly help that by leaving his future ambiguous after the summer before then deciding to continue under Xavi last month.

He will have, perhaps, been hoping to dispel some of the doubts with his performances during the international break. Instead, it seems he’s done the complete opposite.

Time for a successor

For instance, former internationals like Willy van de Kerkhof is now fully questioning whether it’s time to move on.

“Virgil van Dijk arguably ranks among the top five internationals we’ve ever had. He has meant a great deal to the Dutch national team,” he said.

“(But) I think it would be wise to look for a successor to Virgil in the national team.”

His brother René noted exactly the same thing on Omroep Brabant’s Willy en René Podcast.

“When he has to play against French attackers, they’re already gone before Van Dijk has even turned around. That’s really starting to become a problem. He gets outpaced regularly at Liverpool, too,” he added.

Sitting deeper

The solution, according to Willy, is the Liverpool defender sitting deeper. But that’s an issue under Xavi, who wants to play a high line.

“But that’s the issue with Xavi; he actually wants him to play further up the pitch. And you also have to look ahead to the European Championship in two years’ time. How good will he be then?” he added.

He wouldn’t be kicking the Liverpool defender out just yet, because there are positives, but he does think that Xavi needs to look at the alternatives in the squad.

“He’s a fantastic captain and can be very important in the dressing room,” he concluded.

“If he were to drop out now, you’d have to replace him anyway. You’ve got Van Hecke, Timber could step in, and there are other defenders playing in the English league.”