Virgil Van Dijk ‘didn’t even move’ for Leeds United’s winning goal against Liverpool last night.
That’s the view of former Liverpool player Steve Nicol. Covering the game at Anfield for ESPN, Nicol pointed the finger at Van Dijk for his lack of anticipation.
“Van Dijk for the last goal, he doesn’t move his feet at all. Summerville gets it and he moves two different ways, the ball moves, and then he toe-pokes it into the goal. During that whole little spell, which I understand is a short time, Van Dijk doesn’t move his feet or his body. He just stands there and watches,” said the pundit via the Liverpool Echo.
“Not only Van Dijk, but a couple of years ago that whole back-four would have had Leeds camped in their own half. Two years ago Liverpool defended as a unit. Today, Liverpool don’t defend whether it’s the top, the middle or the back.
“I heard Klopp talking the other day about it will be different after the World Cup, I would love to know what’s going to change because it doesn’t seem like the personnel is going to change an awful lot. But I tell you what there’s an awful lot that has to change.”
A comedy of errors on another horror night for Liverpool
It feels slightly harsh to blame Van Dijk for Summerville’s late winner on Saturday night. Perhaps the Dutchman could have got across a little quicker, but he wasn’t the primary suspect.
Instead, Thiago Alcantara was the man who should have anticipated the ball from Willy Gnonto reaching Patrick Bamford.
The Spaniard seemed to leave ball and man to a combination of Van Dijk and Joe Gomez. Neither player was close enough to Bamford, who’s mistimed touch left Liverpool scrambling.
From there, Liverpool’s £240k-a-week man was never really in a position to win the ball back. Summerville takes the shot on early, which is why it was able to trickle past Alisson Becker.
Rewind though, and the blame perhaps ultimately lies with both James Milner and Curtis Jones. The two substitutes were two on one with Gnonto on the left-wing.
How they allowed the teenager to squeeze a pull-back into the Liverpool box, only they know.
A comedy of errors then from Liverpool, and it rather summed up a disjointed night at Anfield that ended in an inevitable sucker punch.
Just when you think the worst must be over for Liverpool this season, they find another way to disappoint you. They had a real opportunity against Nottingham Forest and Leeds to get their season back on track. Instead, it’s coming apart at the seams.
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