Liverpool are currently second in the Premier League table.
However, before their recent defeats against Crystal Palace and Chelsea, many fans, pundits, and journalists expected them to easily retain their title.
Players such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz were brought in during the summer, but up until now, we haven’t seen the best version of them.
Indeed, it’ll take time for things to gel and end up working out, but you’d have at least expected a bit more progress on that front at this stage of the season.
However, despite Wirtz and Isak not being at their best, it is neither of them that Marco van Basten thinks has become too laid back.
Marco van Basten says Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is too ‘easy-going’
Virgil van Dijk has undoubtedly been Liverpool’s best centre-back over the last few years.
Without him among their ranks, it’s unclear where the Reds would find themselves at the moment and whether they’d have even won the Premier League title last term.
He’s only contracted to Liverpool until the end of next season, and if no renewal is struck soon, the Reds could be without one of their key players.
However, according to Van Basten, who was speaking on Riggo Sports’ Rondo, in quotes relayed by De Telegraaf, he thinks Van Dijk isn’t the right sort of leader for the Netherlands or Liverpool.
“I think Van Dijk needs to be the leader. He needs to lead by example and be the driving force,” he said.
“I miss that in him. I find his mentality easy-going.
“He’s a fantastic player, perhaps the best defender we have in the world. He can head the ball, is quick, tall, and has a good overview.
“But he’s not the leader who drives the team forward, and that would actually benefit the team.
“I hope Arne Slot can teach him something.”
Virgil van Dijk must prove Marco van Basten wrong upon his return to Liverpool
Without Van Dijk this season, Liverpool would have been way worse off than they already are.
Ibrahima Konate’s form has been way off the pace, with others such as Milos Kerkez also being miles away from their best.
Van Dijk has been the one consistently good defender among Slot’s ranks this term, and although he may not be making as many waves as he has done in previous years, he’s still rock-solid.
There are, of course, a couple of things that could improve about his game, but since he’s now 33 years old, this feels like it’ll be the best he’ll ever get.
The Netherlands have more or less qualified for the 2026 World Cup after their 4-0 win over Finland on Saturday.
And, now that players are returning to their squads, it’s clear that now is the time to leave an impression on their national team managers.
So, here’s hoping Van Dijk comes back to Anfield even better and that he manages to prove Van Basten wrong.
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