Virgil van Dijk sparks shock as Liverpool star ‘confused’ on pitch at PSG
Virgil van Dijk left Ally McCoist, Rio Ferdinand and Steve McManaman aghast after a defensive meltdown for Liverpool against PSG.
The Premier League table-toppers faced off against PSG in a clash between England and France’s best teams on Wednesday evening (5 March).
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was linked with a move to Liverpool in January, before joining the Parisian side, and the Georgian international had a goal ruled out for a tight-offside after 20 minutes.
Ibrahima Konate’s performances for Liverpool have concerned the club this season, and the Frenchman was incredibly luck to not be shown a red card for a shove in the back of Bradley Barcola.
Virgil van Dijk leaves commentators in shock after going AWOL for Liverpool
With half-an-hour gone, PSG looked to start yet another attack, with Liverpool pinned in their own-half by the home side.
Barcola burst inside, leaving Real Madrid target Trent Alexander-Arnold behind, and as he moved in-field, Ousmane Dembele made a darting run, whilst being tracked by Van Dijk.
However, despite the Dutch international’s experience, he seemed to complete lose track of what was happening around him, playing all of PSG’s frontmen onside, and leaving a gaping hole in the centre of the Reds’ defence.
| 2024/25 Premier League stats | Van Dijk |
| Appearances | 28 |
| Starts | 28 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Yellow cards | 3 |
| Minutes | 2,520 |
Then as the ball was played through Van Dijk wandered away from Dembele and left him completely unmarked.
The former Celtic man was bailed out by Alisson, who made a fantastic save from the former Barcelona man, before Barcola had a shot blocked by Dominik Szoboszlai and then skied his rebound.
Former Rangers striker, McCoist, was left in disbelief TNT Sports, saying (8.30pm): “Where did Van Dijk go!? Where did Van Dijk go there?! I can’t believe it!
“I mean that’s a big chance, they’ve got to be one up there, but I do not know, Rio, where Virgil van Dijk went there.”
Ferdinand then chimed in by saying: “He tried to go back into the central area of the pitch and play offside I think. He looked confused in that sense, but I tell you one thing [he’s] thankful for that Liverpool team that Allison’s in that net.”
At half-time, former Liverpool legend McManaman called opportunity for the French striker the “weirdest chance ever”, and said that Van Dijk had “vacated” Dembele.
Liverpool identify Virgil van Dijk replacement
Football Insider Verdict
Liverpool have identified Dean Huijsen as a potential replacement for their captain, should Van Dijk leave the club this summer.
The former Southampton man joined the Reds in January 2018, for £75million.
Whilst the figure was astonishing at the time, Van Dijk has been a key part in the clubs renaissance, winning Premier League and Champions League trophy’s in his time with the club.
However, at 33-years-old, the club are in a tricky position, whilst the former Celtic man remains one of the world’s best defenders, giving him a bumper new contract may financially restrict the club when it comes to finding his replacement.
Huijsen is rumoured to have a £50million release clause in his contract, and even without one, the Spanish defender will not be available for long, with some of the world’s biggest clubs wanting to sign the Bournemouth defender.