Pundit Richard Dunne has singled Virgil van Dijk out as the biggest problem in the Liverpool defence ahead of their upcoming clash against Crystal Palace.
The £240,000-a-week defender has been widely criticised for his poor displays during the 2022/2023 season, with Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Markus Babbel slating the man once regarded as the best centre-back in the world.
As Liverpool prepare to lock horns against Crystal Palace in the Premier League after their brutal defeat to Real Madrid, pundit Richard Dunne has said Virgil van Dijk may be a reason for the side’s defensive woes.
Pundit Richard Dunne slates Virgil van Dijk for defensive problems at Liverpool ahead of Palace clash
Earlier this campaign, Trent Alexander-Arnold went as far to say that the ex-Southampton colossus will go down as one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game.
Well, pundit Richard Dunne may be inclined to disagree as he criticised Liverpool vice-captain Virgil van Dijk for his side’s defensive frailties as he prepares to face Crystal Palace while speaking to Virgin Media Sport.
“The problem is possibly Van Dijk. They need to build a defence around Konate rather than Van Dijk. I don’t think he’s recovered from his injury. When players run at him, he doesn’t put a tackle in anymore.”
“You always see him putting his hands out saying ‘someone else should have done better,’ you don’t see him intercepting anymore. There’s just a passiveness to his whole game.”
Harsh to just blame Van Dijk
Sure, Virgil van Dijk has been underwhelming for Liverpool this season, and pundit Richard Dunne is right in pointing that out, ahead of the side’s upcoming contest against Crystal Palace.
But then again, the likes of Fabinho, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson and Joe Gomez have also massively underwhelmed, which is why the blame cannot be pinned on one player only.
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