‘It was difficult’: Virgil van Dijk says something ‘strange’ has happened at Liverpool this season

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Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has said the upcoming World Cup has had a major effect on the Reds’ start to the season.

That’s what the Netherlands international told the Liverpool Echo. With the tournament set in the middle of winter, the 31-year-old claims it has meant a difficult period for players to adjust to.

“I would say the last couple of months has been just strange. Everyone is trying to find consistency, not only us as a team and as a club, but if you look at other teams around it is just difficult. No-one really can put a finger on it,” he said.

“Obviously, a big part of this is because there is going to be a such a big break coming up and the World Cup and players getting injured, players not fully fit. It was strange, it was difficult for everyone, but I can only speak for us because I’m in the middle of it.

“But it was good to find a bit of stability in the last couple of games. Obviously, a lot of players will still work during the break after a holiday period first. It was good to reach 22 points. It has been a tough couple of months, but I think it was very important to win a tough game against a team with a new manager.”

Van Dijk says this season has been ‘strange’

Liverpool signed off the first sector of the season with a 3-1 win over Southampton, capping off the side’s most disappointing start to a campaign in recent years.

Although the Reds have reached the last 16 of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, Jurgen Klopp’s squad sit seven points off the top four – albeit with a game in hand over third-place Newcastle and fourth-place Tottenham.

After just 14 games played, Liverpool trail 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal. This illustrates just how far the Merseyside club have been off it this term, especially when you compare it to last year, when they sat second in the league table at Christmas.

Building up to the World Cup, players hopeful of going to Qatar will have been mindful of their fitness. Late injuries have meant a whole load of stars are set to miss out on the tournament, so it can’t have been easy playing multiple games a week in the run-up.

Van Dijk himself has even been below his usual standards. Whilst critics have blown this form way out of proportion, it just shows how different and difficult it has been for teams this season.

Hopefully the Reds’ slight increase in form will mean the side come out flying on their return from the World Cup.