Pundit issues emphatic Virgil van Dijk claim after Liverpool latest – ‘you can’t be having that’
Alan Hutton has claimed Virgil van Dijk could benefit from increased competition at Liverpool.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender insisted that “you can’t be having” players feeling like they are nailed-on starters.
Van Dijk, 31, was on the scoresheet on Saturday (27 August) as the Reds smashed Bournemouth 9-0.
He started alongside Joe Gomez at centre-back.
The victory at Anfield was Jurgen Klopp’s first win of the season.
Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Man United last Monday (22 August).
The result followed two successive draws with Fulham and Crystal Palace.
Speaking to club media (26 August), Klopp admitted that his side needs to strengthen the side before the end of the window.
The Reds have a long injury list that includes centre-backs Ibrahim Konate and Joel Matip.
Hutton claimed Liverpool are lacking in competition due to the long injury list.
“I think everybody benefits from it [competition],” he told Football Insider.
“Matip struggles with injury, Konate isn’t there at the moment, Gomez isn’t up to speed, so they’ve got their own issues.
“I think if they’re all fully fit and firing, they’re absolutely fine. But, of course, you need competition, you can’t be having somebody feeling like, no matter what, they’re starting.
“I think Van Dijk is a top player, he’s had a little dip in form recently and the people around him weren’t helping. But I think with time it will click together.“
In other news, Liverpool are close to ‘signing of the century’ after source’s Bellingham update in recent hours.