Virgil van Dijk is enduring his ‘worst season’ at Premier League giants Liverpool with many of Jurgen Klopp’s star men struggling for form at present, former Anfield goalkeeper Sander Westerweld tells De Telegraaf.
Fabinho looks a shadow of his once impenetrable self. Trent Alexander-Arnold weaknesses are starting to be exploited almost week-in, week-out. And Mo Salah, Golden Boot winner just last term, has just three goals in his first 11 league games.
Van Dijk is clearly not the only senior Liverpool player looking off-colour and out-of-sorts. And Westerweld believes that the usually totemic Dutchman is a victim of circumstance, following injuries to centre-back partners Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate.
Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool struggling for consistency
“They concede way too many goals. Van Dijk no longer plays as convincingly as usual,” says Westerweld, who won five trophies with Liverpool between 1999 and 2001.
“Actually, Virgil performed above expectations last season, after that serious knee injury. Because of all the injuries with his team-mates, Virgil almost never plays with the same partner. And that doesn’t help either.
“But he was known for almost always playing (with a clear head). But, now, it is just not the case in many matches. He makes quite a few mistakes. I think this is his worst season at Liverpool.
“(But) it is also not the case that Van Dijk has forgotten (how to defend), has he. He played Erling Haaland out of the game.
Westerweld has a point.
As recently as mid-October, Van Dijk brilliantly marshalled the most lethal marskmen in world football, Liverpool rolling back the years with a nerve-shredding 1-0 victory over Haaland’s Manchester City. And they do say form is merely temporary.
After missing a trio of chances during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, Van Dijk and Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back against Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
“Ajax are a fantastic club; historically as well with the philosophy of how they want to play,” Van Dijk says (Daily Mail).
“I know how it can be here on a Champions League night when thing go well for them. We are prepared for that. We have to match the intensity at least and then do even more.
“It will be interesting and something we should look forward to. We shouldn’t forget ourselves and who we are. We have to keep the confidence and try and be consistent.”
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