9 months ago
124 Dave Watson has suggested that something can probably be said about Virgil van Dijk for the very first time in his career after Liverpool were beaten by Arsenal on Sunday.
Sunday’s trip to the Emirates could have hardly gone worse for Jurgen Klopp’s men. Liverpool were largely unable to get out of second gear against the Gunners. And Arsenal took full advantage of a lacklustre performance from the Premier League leaders.
It was remarkable how easy Kai Havertz was able to get through in the build-up to Bukayo Saka’s opener. And Gabriel Martinelli will probably never score a simpler goal than Arsenal’s second after a mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.
Virgil van Dijk responsible for all three goals Liverpool conceded
And the scoring was complete in stoppage-time, with Leandro Trossard’s effort deflecting off van Dijk and past Alisson.
With that, former England goalkeeping coach Dave Watson told The Football Fill-In suggested that questions could be asked of the Liverpool captain for each goal.
“I thought if you look at the three goals Liverpool concede, and it’s probably never, ever in his career will you have said this, I think van Dijk was responsible in all three of them goals,” he said.
“The first goal, he’s either got to go all the way in and engage or drop off and the space is not there for Havertz to get through on goal.
“The second goal, it’s just a long punt forward. And again, the modern way of the centre-half, I think if you look back at the video, he’d just head it down to his partner Konate, and they’d be playing out and getting away with it. But as usual, 6″4, lets it bounce, thinks he can muscle Martinelli – and nine times out of 10, he would’ve muscled Martinelli, and Alisson would’ve come out, chested it down and he’d have played safe to somebody.
“But everything worked against him. He should’ve just headed the ball. He lets it bounce, Martinelli, fair play to him it’s not a foul, just gives him a little nudge at the right time. It’s so hard for the goalie to second guess that van Dijk’s going to let the ball bounce. And as soon as that ball bounces, you’re not quite sure. Martinelli just nudges him at the right time. And Alisson comes to try and scoop up the danger. And he just catches van Dijk’s thigh, doesn’t he, which then makes him miss the ball, and Martinelli puts it in an open goal.”
Out of character performance from Reds captain
It was a surprise to see van Dijk struggle so much against Arsenal. Ultimately, van Dijk looks to be back to something like his best this season, often making defending look so easy.
But this performance was much more like what Liverpool fans occasionally saw when he was making his way back from long-term injury a few years ago.
Van Dijk made a number of poor decisions in Sunday’s game. But he will not need telling of where he could have done better. He will be under no illusions that he was extremely poor by his own standards against Arsenal.
And it should be absolutely no surprise if van Dijk puts things right in the weeks to come as Liverpool look to bounce back from such a disappointing defeat at the weekend.
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