Speaking on the Match of the Day Top 10 Podcast, Gary Lineker has been discussing Liverpool and their style of play with their high defensive line.
It’s no secret that Liverpool like their defenders to push up in order to facilitate a press further up the pitch and win the ball back in dangerous areas, but, as we all know, that can leave you open to counter-attacks.
While Lineker was pointing out some of the flaws of playing a high line, he stated that one team that can get away with playing in this way is Liverpool, and that’s down to Virgil van Dijk.
What’s been said?
Lineker spoke about Manchester City and Liverpool’s tactical set-ups.
“That’s how they play though isn’t it? It’s the same with Liverpool, I don’t think they can play without a high line the way that both of those teams do. The problem is though that if there’s someone in the midfield with no pressure on the ball you have to drop, and sometimes defenders can get that wrong. But with Liverpool with van Dijk who is such a Rolls Royce they can get away with it,” Lineker said.
The vital component
We’re not exaggerating when we say that van Dijk is the most important player in this Liverpool team.
His pace, strength and ability to read the game allows Liverpool to play this risky high line, and when he’s not in the team, everything changes.
Just look at Liverpool last season, the Reds were a shell of their former selves when van Dijk went down with injury, but now that he’s returned, they’re once again competing on all fronts and they could win a quadruple.
Lineker calls van Dijk a Rolls Royce of a player, and he’s absolutely right.
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