Pundit hits out at Virgil van Dijk after what he’s just seen at Liverpool – ‘it’s horrible’
Noel Whelan has claimed the “lack of desire to defend” is letting Liverpool down “massively” as their struggles continue.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, singled out mistakes from world-class defender Virgil van Dijk, 31, who he claims has become “complacent”.
Liverpool drew 3-3 against Brighton on Saturday (1 October), meaning Jurgen Klopp’s side sit ninth in the Premier League after seven games.
The Reds bounced back, however, with a 2-0 win over Champions League Group A whipping boys Rangers on Tuesday (4 October).
Klopp switched from his traditional 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1 system, dropping Fabinho from a midfield which has come under fire in recent weeks.
As per FBref, Liverpool ranked first for pressures in the final third last season – but have dropped to fifth in the new campaign.
Whelan suggested the Reds’ lack of activity in attack has “filtered down” to the likes of Van Dijk in defence.
He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “That intensity and desire to defend starts from the front.
“If you’re not doing it there then it filters all the way down, and puts other areas under pressure. The midfield becomes overloaded because you’re not putting the work in.
“The desire to want to defend is gone. Teams are scoring goals from a lack of concentration.
“You can see it creeping into the best players in the world, like Van Dijk. Little mistakes are creeping into his game, complacency.
“They’ve got to get back to basics because it’s letting them down massively. It’s jogging – there’s no intensity, and it’s horrible to see.
.“It’s making good players look bad at the moment.”
In other news, medical insider claims Darwin Nunez has “muscle” issue amid new Liverpool reveal.