Liverpool as a squad have suffered in 2025/26, but Virgil van Dijk has been told that he’s been made to look worse than he actually has been.
Fans have questioned Van Dijk at times this season amid a couple of high-profile errors in big matches, including in that 4-1 loss to PSV in the Champions League.
However, David Lynch has now defended the Dutchman and come out to suggest he has been let down by his teammates.
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Virgil van Dijk told he’s been made to look worse because of teammates
Liverpool have had a makeshift backline this season amid consistent injury issues between the sticks and at right-back.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo have all featured out of position on the right of the back four, while both Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate have had difficult patches of form across 2025/26.
But speaking to Anfield Index, Lynch has defended Van Dijk and actually praised his form during a tough campaign.
He said: “I think his defensive performance generally this season has been incredible as well. He won’t get praised for that because Liverpool as a defensive unit, as a football team, as a unit, are in absolute shambles.
“I still think he’s the best [centre-back] in the league by a mile. Maybe he’s not 2019 Van Dijk, but I still think he’s comfortably the best. He’s had way too much to do and been made to look stupid at times. I just think he’s in an awful team. I think his quality hasn’t declined in the slightest.”
Liverpool fans will miss Virgil van Dijk when he leaves
Aside from the aforementioned criticism from the PSV game, supporters hit out at Van Dijk against Bournemouth back in January.
More recently, fans expressed concern about the centre-back in the loss to Aston Villa, with some suggesting he is ‘washed’ and ‘cooked’.
Has Van Dijk been at the top of his game this season? No, but nobody in Slot’s team has because of how poor the squad as a unit has been set up and managed.
The stopper is close to entering the final year of his Liverpool contract, and a replacement will be needed very soon.
Van Dijk should be remembered as one of the greatest centre-backs in Premier League history, and even if he’s not been 100% this term, he has still been miles above every other Reds defender.
Just like Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, the ex-Southampton man’s quality will be appreciated most after he’s gone but for now, he needs more respect for trying to carry a poor team both on and off the pitch.
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