Speaking on the Die for Three Points Podcast, Neil Warnock has been discussing Virgil van Dijk’s poor run of form and Liverpool’s slow start to the season.
The Dutch defender has spent the last five years or so establishing himself as the world’s best centre-back, but this season he’s looked decidedly average.
Van Dijk has looked vulnerable at the back on more than one occasion, and this has led to many wondering whether or not his best days are behind him.
However, Warnock isn’t buying into that notion, stating that van Dijk’s return to form is just a matter of time, claiming that good players always bounce back.
A matter of time
Warnock spoke about van Dijk’s bad run.
“The time to judge will be at the end of the season, but he has to adjust. Some of the mistakes they’ve made. Basic things really, the best centre-half in the country has hit a bad spell. Van Dijk has hit a bad spell. Whereas he’s been able to lift everyone around him, he looks like he has enough on his plate to lift himself, but that will come back, with good players that comes back,” Warnock said.
Bounce back
Virgil van Dijk hasn’t been at his best this season, but as Warnock says, surely this can’t go on for too long.
He’s still physically as strong as ever, but it seems as though he’s lacking a bit of intensity and bite at the moment.
Perhaps he’s got half an eye on the upcoming World Cup, and once that distraction is out of the way, maybe then we will see the dominating defender back to his best.
Let’s not forget, this is a season unlike any other, and we’re bound to see some strange patterns emerging.
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