Liverpool and Netherlands international central defender Virgil van Dijk is “slowly” coming back to form.
That is the opinion of former Tottenham Hotspur forward and BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks.
Crooks has included Virgil van Dijk in his Premier League Team of the Week for his performance for Liverpool against Everton at Anfield in the Merseyside derby this past weekend.
Liverpool beat Everton 2-0 in the Premier League.
It was a very controversial game in which Liverpool should probably have had defender Ibrahima Konate sent off.
Crooks has noted that Van Dijk played well in the Premier League match.
The BBC Sport pundit believes that the £220,000-a-week (Spotrac) 32-year-old is changing now and is slowly getting back into form.
Garth Crooks on Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk vs Everton
Crooks wrote on BBC Sport: “Was Everton’s Ashley Young’s sending off for a second bookable offence really necessary?
“If it was then Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate had to go. Young’s tackle was a genuine one to try and win the ball.
“Konate’s challenge on Beto was cynical and crude and what the yellow card was designed for but the Liverpool defender didn’t receive one for the challenge in question.
“Fortunately for Liverpool they have Virgil Van Dijk in defence who is slowly coming back to some kind of form.”
My View: Virgil van Dijk may never get back to his best
Virgil van Dijk was superb in his first few years at Liverpool.
At one point, the former Celtic star was arguably the best centre-back in the world.
However, Van Dijk has not been at his best for a while now.
It seems that the long-term injury he had has affected him.
Van Dijk is still a very good defender, but I do not think that the 32-year-old is world class anymore.
He is past his best.
The Dutchman is 32 now.
I believe that Liverpool need to start thinking of finding a long-term replacement for Van Dijk.
If Liverpool are to keep pace with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, then they have to look forward.
Van Dijk has made 235 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career.
The Dutchman has scored 20 goals, given seven assists, and kept 94 clean sheets in those games.
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