Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, has responded to former defender Jamie Carragher's critique that the Reds are not physically equipped for Premier League football. Van Dijk disagrees with this assessment but acknowledges the need for the team to address a recurring issue.
The Reds have been grappling with some of the more physically demanding aspects of English top-flight football this season. Despite their high possession rates, they've found it challenging to handle set-pieces at both ends of the field and have struggled against simple counter-attacks.
Last week, Liverpool conceded from a long throw during their match against Bournemouth. Many observers felt that Arne Slot’s side was outplayed by the Cherries. These problems aren't isolated incidents; they've contributed to Liverpool failing to win any of its last five league matches and slipping down to sixth place in the table. In contrast with their domestic struggles, Liverpool has thrived on the European stage where a dominant playing style suits more possession-oriented teams and is less physically demanding.
Van Dijk disagrees with Carragher’s assessment
Van Dijk voiced his disagreement with Carragher’s claim after their 6-0 victory over Qarabag midweek. He believes that despite recent challenges, Liverpool can compete effectively in Premier League matches.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool captain, said:
“I don't know who said that, but I'm not going to guess because the thing for me is anyone can say whatever they want. The difficulties that we're having at the moment is that we don't have the consistency. We can't, so far, build enough on good performances that we have during this season. That's something we work on, it's something we have to improve. I think we are well-equipped to deal with the demands of the Premier League. If you look at the team today, we are in a situation where we have to be creative and obviously have youngsters also who want to make this step up as well and get the opportunities like today. So it's a combination of everything, and we just have to keep going.
“There's a lot of emphasis on set-pieces nowadays,” added Van Dijk, an 11-year veteran of the Premier League. “That's obviously been made so big over the last year, not only in England, but also in different countries, I think. The set-piece coach is introduced all of a sudden, so there's obviously a lot more into that with things like long throws. This season [the impact] has been huge all of a sudden. Every year, the Premier League will adapt. I think if you compare our timeline in the Premier League to 10, 15 years ago, it's completely different as well. It sounds maybe a bit simple, but you have to just get on with it and try to be the best. We know we can do it, but like I said, not on a consistent basis so far and that's why we have been struggling.”
The defeat at Bournemouth drew heavy criticism towards Liverpool and particularly towards Van Dijk who was responsible for allowing Alex Jimenez onside for Bournemouth's second goal. However, he feels some critiques were overly harsh. As captain, Van Dijk admits feeling a sense of duty towards helping his team overcome these issues and improve their performance in upcoming matches. While acknowledging certain weaknesses within his team's performance - especially regarding set-pieces and counter-attacks - Virgil van Dijk remains confident in Liverpool's ability to compete in the Premier League. As captain, he is committed to helping his team address these issues and return to their winning ways. Despite recent setbacks, the Reds' success on the European stage demonstrates that they have what it takes to excel when they play to their strengths.
