Liverpool told Anfield star does not take the initiative, ‘does so little’ in build-up

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Marco van Basten told Ziggo Sport – as per VI – that Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk does not take the initiative, and it is “weird” how little he does in terms of building out, compared to Manchester United target Jurrien Timber.

Van Dijk, 31, is struggling to find his best form this season. Like Liverpool, he looks far from his best so far. But he remains one of the first names on the team sheet and has played every minute of all nine games in all competitions.

However, van Dijk’s form certainly improved during the international break. At least, it looks like it will have done from afar. Two wins over Poland and Belgium, two clean sheets – and the Netherlands skipper scored to beat Belgium 1-0.

But Dutch legend van Basten still managed to find a way to criticise the Dutch defender. Comparing him to Ajax defender Timber, a £35m Manchester United target, van Basten thinks van Dijk does not do much, while Timber does.

“Van Dijk is actually the best defender, but does the least in terms of taking the initiative. It is actually very weird that such a good player does so little for the Dutch national team in the build-up,” van Basten said.

“Timber is a really good builder. Ajax really started to play well because of this man, and so did the Dutch national team. It is really thanks to him that we play so easily from the back. He is really a top player.”

Van Basten: Liverpool defender van Dijk does not take initiative

It is an interesting one. Often in a Liverpool shirt, van Dijk is playing long, diagonal balls to Trent Alexander-Arnold – with the Dutch giants operating on the left of the two centre-back positions. But perhaps for his country, it is different.

Perhaps, it is a change of tactic. Louis van Gaal might want his defenders to feed the ball into midfield more often, compared to Jurgen Klopp. The latter may prefer van Dijk to play a long ball and turn the opposition when right.

What is for sure, is that it is glowing praise of Timber. Still only 20, the Ajax and Netherlands defender has a real future for club and country. The chances are, we could see him in the Premier League, sooner rather than later.