Virgil van Dijk dismisses major Liverpool problem many believe is causing their struggles
The hard-working star Arne Slot may now regret selling this summer, according to Daniel Sturridge, while Virgil van Dijk has retaliated against a journalist who implied that Liverpool’s problems are primarily due to their inability to properly replace Trent Alexander-Arnold and their persistent problems at right-back.
The Reds made significant investments this summer, spending an incredible £440 million (€505 million, $600 million) on a number of top-tier new players in an attempt to make sure their title as Premier League winners was permanent.
They began the season with six consecutive victories, but after three straight losses, which has never happened under Slot’s reign as Liverpool’s manager, it seems like the wheels have slipped off in recent weeks.
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With their most recent defeat, which came in extra time during a 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Saturday, the Reds have lost their lead in the Premier League, and Arsenal is now leading the league going into the most recent international break.
Even though Slot is refusing to panic and the team’s senior players are still urging composure, Reds supporters and the media have been quick to point out Liverpool’s right-back weakness.
On Saturday, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea were able to highlight the weakness in the most effective way possible because Mo Salah failed to follow back and support the players behind him.
Marc Cucurella repeatedly took advantage of that area, and on Saturday, his untracked dart to the byline proved to be the game-winning move as he crossed for Estevao Willian to slip in the winner.
Van Dijk retorted to an NBC Sports reporter, “The right-back is not the issue if you’re trying to do that,” demonstrating his insistence that he is not to blame for Liverpool’s recent run of losses despite that glaring weakness.
“You asked two questions regarding the right-backs,” the 34-year-old then retorted, challenging the reporter. Perhaps you believe that the right-back is the issue.
When asked if the team was losing Trent Alexander-Arnold’s influence when he left for Real Madrid at the end of his contract, Van Dijk went on: “It’s not about him.”
He was a wonderful person, yet he abandoned us. We also played a number of games without him last year. We were all devastated when he went in the summer, of course, but that is not the problem.
Van Dijk admits to Liverpool as Sturridge calls the Reds’ “workhorse”
“It was always going to be a difficult season,” Van Dijk continued. Not just as players, but also as staff and supporters who rejoiced in our victory, we must face this together. But the Dutch defender isn’t giving up, he added.
“A lot of work remains to be done.” We are aware that in football, things can change and momentum can shift every three or four days.
Van Dijk has downplayed Alexander-Arnold’s absence, but former Reds star Daniel Sturridge believes that Luis Diaz’s departure is actually hurting Liverpool the most because Bayern Munich is now benefiting from the Colombian’s work ethic, ability to track back, and front-line defence.
For Sturridge, Luis Diaz is a huge miss, he told Sky Sports. “I believe he was the one who would set the press in the front three when you look at Liverpool last year and how they used to press.”
Despite the fact that both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak have very clear qualities, they might not contribute as much to the team as Diaz did after Liverpool traded out Darwin Nunez and the Colombian.
Wirtz, Isak, and Ekitike put up a lot of effort; we cannot doubt their calibre. However, Diaz would put himself at danger to defend.
They must now determine who will be willing to sacrifice themselves somewhat in that attack. “There always has to be one guy in a front three who says, ‘I’m not stats hungry,'” he continued. “At this moment, I am uncertain about the manager’s plans.”
Liverpool news: Four new defenders are being considered; Salah’s departure date are numbered
Salah was one player who performed far below his best at Stamford Bridge. Based on that performance, a journalist has explained why the Reds might be willing to let go of the Egyptian before his contract expires in 2027, with Slot and Richard Hughes having named three possible successors.
In other news, Liverpool has been said to raid Newcastle United for another of their best players, and four additional names have been added to their wishlist for a new defence.
Given that Ibrahima Konate’s contract is set to expire on June 30, there is still a lot of conjecture about his future.
With a Real Madrid transfer “suspicion” emerging, David Ornstein has provided the most recent information on the Reds’ position in persuading Konate to sign a new deal.
