Liverpool defender made key mistake in defeat to Napoli.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk made a very uncharacteristic mistake in the Reds’ Champions League defeat to Napoli.
Van Dijk made a back pass which Fernando Llorente capitalised on to double Napoli’s lead and clinch a 2-0 win.
Former Reds full-back Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport he was not impressed with Van Dijk’s contribution.
He said: “It is Liverpool’s own undoing. We’re not used to saying it, but it’s lazy play from Virgil van Dijk and he misplaces the pass to Andrew Robertson, which is seized upon by Fernando Llorente. Game over.”
Van Dijk makes errors so rarely, so it is newsworthy when he does have a bad moment.
The Dutchman will be understandably disappointed with his error, which came minutes after a Dries Mertens penalty had given Napoli the lead.
This was not the way Liverpool wanted to start the defence of their Champions League trophy, and quest to win number seven.
It could be a wake up call, and the Reds can use it as a positive, to ensure there is no complacency at all for the rest of the campaign.
The return game at Anfield in November is one to look forward to already.
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