Jamie Carragher has claimed that Liverpool centre-back Virgil Van Dijk looked ‘dangerous’ against Ajax last night.
Liverpool picked up a late win as Van Dijk’s defensive partner Joel Matip headed home an 89th minute winner. But speaking to CBS Sports via The Dail Mail, Carragher said that it was the Dutchman who was actually the more threatening.
“It was Virgil Van Dijk who looked really dangerous all night,” said the pundit. “But Joel Matip is a huge presence. Think of how many goals Liverpool got last season through Konate from set pieces set in the Champions League.”
Virgil could have had a hat-trick by the time the night was through. Ajax couldn’t seem to deal with him from set-plays and were thankful to their goalkeeper for keeping The Reds no.4 out. He eventually couldn’t keep Matip at bay, though, to the relief of Liverpool fans everywhere.
Liverpool finally make it count
The longer last night’s game went on, the more you got the feeling Liverpool really needed to take one of their chances from a set-piece.
Every time the ball was swung in, it seemed to be met by a Liverpool head. Remko Pasveer did well at times to keep efforts out, but Liverpool should have challenged him even more.
Headers flew over the bar and wide, as it looked to be turning into one of those nights for Jurgen Klopp’s team.
It wasn’t as though this was the only way Liverpool were threatening, though. They were more menacing than they have been pretty much all season as they broke forward at pace time after time.
But for one reason or another, the attack still looks somewhat disjointed. Without the security of the tried and tested Mane/Salah/Firmino triad, Klopp is still finding the best way for his new-look front line to work together.
So, as Kostas Tsimikas swung in the corner on the 89th minute, it had the air of last chance saloon time. Thankfully, Matip was able to get just enough power on the header to ensure it travelled over the line.
It wasn’t Liverpool’s first goal from a set-piece this season. But alongside a much better performance, it felt like the first really meaningful one.
The difference between one point and three last night was massive. In the end Liverpool did just enough thanks to their set-piece prowess. It won’t be the last time The Reds rely on their aerial dominance to win a game, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
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