Van Dijk’s successor named for club and country as Koeman slams ‘lazy’ Liverpool star
Virgil van Dijk’s underwhelming form continued, this time on international duty for the Netherlands, mirroring his disappointing season as Liverpool’s caption.
This latest display has coincided with speculation about his potential replacement for both club and country.
Like many Liverpool players, Van Dijk has faced considerable criticism for his recent performances with the Reds, who are enduring a slump of five defeats in their last six Premier League matches.
Manager Arne Slot is finding it difficult to unlock the potential of a squad that, despite a significant £420 million investment in new players following their title win, is struggling to replicate last season’s success.
While the Liverpool captain has fiercely defended his performances against criticism from figures like Wayne Rooney and other Premier League experts, the Dutch press has now joined the chorus of disapproval, following the Netherlands’ frustrating 1-1 draw against Poland on Friday.
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The defender’s showings have been questioned, adding pressure to an already difficult period for the experienced player.
Despite Memphis Depay’s leveling goal, Ronald Koeman’s team waste an opportunity to lock in their spot at next summer’s World Cup.
Nevertheless, Depay’s strike has practically guaranteed their qualification, as they sit atop Group G with a three-point cushion over Poland and a significant goal difference advantage of twelve goals heading into their final match against Lithuania.
Football Oranje delivered a mediocre rating of 5.5 out of 10 for Van Dijk, criticizing him for being “exposed due to his limited speed” on the conceded goal and for “indiscriminately clearing the ball out of bounds when attempting to advance play.”
De Telegraaf asserted that his positioning was flawed, while AD stated that he lacked sharpness and “likely could have minimized the space more effectively.”
Following the match, Koeman declined to single out any specific players but indicated that “multiple individuals” were to blame for Jakub Kaminski’s goal.
He elaborated, stating, “I reviewed the goal. We had a five-on-two advantage, yet some players failed to execute their responsibilities.
Naturally, they absolutely should not have scored from that situation. Mistakes were made that are simply unacceptable.
Regarding the team’s performance, it’s not simply a case of a single player underperforming.
We’re seeing a collective issue where a larger group of four or five individuals are making the kinds of errors that would usually be limited to only a couple of players.
Khalid Boulahrouz strongly believes Micky van de Ven is ideally suited to take over from Virgil van Dijk, both in the Netherlands squad and potentially at Liverpool.
He sees Van de Ven as the perfect long-term replacement at both the international and club level.
Boulahrouz emphasizes Liverpool’s potential interest, stating that Van de Ven would logically be a prime target if they were seeking a top-tier left-sided centre-back with the resources to acquire him.
He also suggests that Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman is likely already aware of Van de Ven’s potential to succeed Van Dijk.
Boulahrouz is thoroughly impressed with Van de Ven’s current form, noting his physical prowess and exceptional speed, to the point where opposing players actively avoid trying to outmaneuver him.
While acknowledging room for improvement in his ball control, specifically pointing out occasional mistakes, Boulahrouz overall expresses a high degree of admiration for Van de Ven’s capabilities and potential.
He’s convinced Van de Ven is exceeding expectations and truly standingout.
Khalid Boulahrouz has come to supp6 Virgil van Dijk’s, pushing back against recent criticism leveled at the Liverpool captain.
While acknowledging Liverpool’s recent dip in form and the challenges presented by new additions and the absence of key players like Diogo Jota, Boulahrouz insists Van Dijk remains a top-tier talent.
However, Boulahrouz does raise a concern about the long-term sustainability of Van Dijk’s performance at the elite level, especially considering his extended tenure in the demanding Premier League and the fresh two-year contract he penned in April.
He questions how much longer the seasoned defender can consistently deliver at his peak, suggesting the rigors of the game might be taking their toll and that a breather could be in order after significant tournaments like the World Cup.
Furthermore, Boulahrouz touched upon the struggles of another Liverpool player, Ryan Gravenberch, during a match against Poland.
The midfielder’s performance drew sharp criticism from Pierre van Hooijdonk, who didn’t mince words, labeling Gravenberch as “lazy.”
Van Hooijdonk suggested that Gravenberch’s perceived lack of effort stemmed from a misguided belief that he wouldn’t need to intervene in certain situations, a consequence, he argued, of feeling overly dominant against weaker opposition.
