Garth Crooks critical of how Virgil van Dijk defends for Liverpool

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Virgil van Dijk has played a key part in why Liverpool lifted the Champions League and the European Super Cup in recent months.

BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has astonishingly urged Virgil van Dijk to ‘do his share of the heavy lifting’ when defending for Liverpool.

The former striker claimed that Joel Matip is the one who does the dirty work at the back, as he believes Van Dijk needs to make more ‘last-ditch tackles’ and get ‘smashed in the face’ with the ball, just like his defensive partner does on a weekly basis.

Both Van Dijk and Matip produced the best defensive partnership in the Premier League last season, and after being separated for the opening game of the campaign, they returned together for the 2-1 win against Southampton on Saturday.

Whilst naming Matip in his Premier League Team of the Week, Crooks criticised Van Dijk for how he defends as he seemingly wants him to do more of the dirty work.

“Whenever Joel Matip plays for Liverpool he appears to be the one who is making all the last-ditch tackles, getting the ball smashed in his face and coming to Liverpool’s aid in a crisis,” Crooks told BBC Sport.

“Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk looks beautifully groomed, hair swept back in a ponytail, strolling around looking like he’s just returned from a week in Vegas! Matip must get Van Dijk to do his share of the heavy lifting when the Reds are up against it away from home. I know Matip is the junior partner here but, come on, fair is fair.”

Crooks’ comments won’t go down well with Liverpool supporters and it is pretty amazing that he doesn’t understand why Van Dijk doesn’t need to make ‘last-ditch tackles’.

The Dutchman reads the game so well, is composed both with and without the ball, therefore, he doesn’t need to slide into opposition players for the sake of it.

Nonetheless, Van Dijk, who is regarded as the best defender in the world, at this moment in time, will be hoping to push Liverpool to Premier League success at the end of the season.