Pundit Chris Sutton has claimed Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has gotten so much worse this season.
Speaking on an episode of Monday Night Club for BBC 5 Live Sport, the former Blackburn and Chelsea forward suggested the Netherlands captain is now a shadow of his former self.
“I don’t think Alisson has done a little wrong in truth,” said Sutton.
“Van Dijk is way off the pace to the player he once was.
“Alexander-Arnold is really lacking confidence and it’s filtering through to other players.”
Sutton thinks Van Dijk is so much worse now
Van Dijk certainly hasn’t been up to his usual standards this year; the standards which saw him so nearly beat Lionel Messi to the Ballon d’Or in 2019.
Surprisingly, in the Premier League for Liverpool this term, the Dutchman ranks 12th for tackles made, averaging just 0.9 a game.
Furthermore, he ranks eighth for interceptions made, for which he averages one per match.
However, the 31-year-old hasn’t been anywhere near as bad as some commentators have made him out to be.
He still adds leadership and a calm presence to Jurgen Klopp’s back-line. Without him in defence, Liverpool would have been far worse this season.
Therefore, it’s unfair to see so much criticism directed at Van Dijk – he simply hasn’t been as poor as many people think.
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