Topic: Virgil Van Dijk (Cpt)

[slaphead]

The way we can control games when he plays is just incredible. I have never in my lifetime seen a player who has such a huge impact on his teammates. How they play, manage a game, confidence. It's exceptional. His organisational skills are the best on the planet.

[MD1990]

out 9 months .

Not played 90 mins in pre season.

1 goal conceded in 4 games while he plays in cruise control. He is a freak. Greatest CB I have ever seen

[Knight]

I can’t believe it took him so long to play at the highest level. He is just absurdly good. We’ll hardly concede any goals at all with him, Matip and Allison on the pitch. Literally just need to score enough and we’ll win this thing. As long as they stay fit of course.

[PoetryInMotion]

I'm just waiting for him to score from a corner and the world to finally snap back into place.

I hope he scores one against Atletico. That would be a nice way to announce his arrival to his 100% abilities post recovery.

[kj999]

I hope he scores one against Atletico. That would be a nice way to announce his arrival to his 100% abilities post recovery.

I hope he can bag a couple before we play Atletico personally, can't be arsed to wait til mid October...

[RayPhilAlan]

Doing well… but nowhere near his best yet…

That he doesn’t need to be is telling of his influence

I thought he took a step up against Leeds though. He's getting closer.

[Samie]

[tubby]

Got a nice rest, watched a great advert for football for free.  Perfect night for him.

[farawayred]

His disgust at the goal... He feels it even if he's not playing.

[slaphead]

Samie gone see if you can get a photo of the big man with Baresi. Thanks

[Samie]

Nothing on the Getty images page mate. Maldini was on the pitch as an official rep of Milan tonight, that's why he was on the pitch.

[slaphead]

Nothing on the Getty images page mate. Maldini was on the pitch as an official rep of Milan tonight, that's why he was on the pitch.

I know, just pulling your leg mate. I can't make my mind up who is my favourite ever defender between Baresi and Van Dijk, Seriously though, that's a great photo. I recall Van Dijk saying the same thing Maldini has always said about defending. That they be upset with themselves if they have to slide tackle because the first mistake has been made by that stage.

[Slippers]

The look on his face when we conceded.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Every time the big man did anything the commentator on Supersport simply said "calm as you like" 

[farawayred]

Wasn't his best game, but he's coming back to his old standards. Konate complements him well.

[BarryCrocker]

That was his 100th PL appearance for us.

Drag out the photo with the jersey.

[thaddeus]

Wasn't his best game, but he's coming back to his old standards. Konate complements him well.

I'm delighted that he's just back in the rhythm of playing, training, playing, training.  Whilst that continues the rest will take care of itself.

[JackWard33]

Recovery post an injury like that isn’t linear and today he was a million miles off his level - about as bad as he’s played for us since he arrived …. Hopefully just a physical dip after coming back

[Morgana]

Recovery post an injury like that isn’t linear and today he was a million miles off his level - about as bad as he’s played for us since he arrived …. Hopefully just a physical dip after coming back

It could also be the fact that we keep changing CB pairings. But I agree: he's way off his level and him and Matip didn't do the team or the fullbacks any favours today. Hopefully they all improve going forward.

Competition is also good for everybody, so I hope Klopp isn't squeamish about dropping anybody. Konate looks good. Give him a go every now and then when Virgil or Matip are struggling with match fitness.

[CraigDS]

Konate looks good. Give him a go every now and then when Virgil or Matip are struggling with match fitness.

You seem to be forgetting about Gomez, who is arguably the second best CB at the club.

[Illmatic]

It could also be the fact that we keep changing CB pairings. But I agree: he's way off his level and him and Matip didn't do the team or the fullbacks any favours today. Hopefully they all improve going forward.

The only game we changed really was against AC he was never going to play in League Cup. Don't think there we will much rotation in the league unless injury or really poor form. Klopp may look to rotate more in the CL given we have quality back up and the recent long term injuries suffered by VVD and Matip.   

[jillcwhomever]

You seem to be forgetting about Gomez, who is arguably the second best CB at the club.

Yes and Joe has looked pretty good in both his recent games, would like to see him get a league start soon.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

We should maybe think about cashing in on him before his value plummets 

[Kashinoda]

Don't need to be match fit to jump off the ground and head a simple ball.

[farawayred]

Don't need to be match fit to jump off the ground and head a simple ball.

Yeah, that for their second goal was a strange challenge per his standards. He also didn't take great positions against Toney, normally he's breathing up the forwards neck as soon as the long ball is kicked to them. But the latter may be match fitness.   

[newterp]

He did run Toney down and the end of the game and get between him and the goal. So all the attributes look to be there.

I think this game was just tough 100mph all game. He's still getting to full fitness.

[farawayred]

He did run Toney down and the end of the game and get between him and the goal. So all the attributes look to be there.

I think this game was just tough 100mph all game. He's still getting to full fitness.

Yeah, I feel the same. He'd need some games to get to his best.

[MonsLibpool]

Yeah, that for their second goal was a strange challenge per his standards. He also didn't take great positions against Toney, normally he's breathing up the forwards neck as soon as the long ball is kicked to them. But the latter may be match fitness.

He's human afterall and can have a bad game. I think he's been very good considering how long he's been out for.

[jillcwhomever]

He did run Toney down and the end of the game and get between him and the goal. So all the attributes look to be there.

I think this game was just tough 100mph all game. He's still getting to full fitness.

I think that is an excellent point, he will get there. He can only do it by playing games though.

[johnj147]

He did run Toney down and the end of the game and get between him and the goal. So all the attributes look to be there.

I think this game was just tough 100mph all game. He's still getting to full fitness.

yeah done well there .. but i thought he was poor in air and in our box ,,

[Knight]

Their second I could not believe him. So poor. There were issues everywhere defensively so he doesn’t get all the blame at all but not like him to make such a pathetic attempt to win the ball when it could not have been crucial.

[lgvkarlos]

He's human afterall and can have a bad game. I think he's been very good considering how long he's been out for.

Thought he was poor but Klopp did hang the defence out to dry with the very odd substitution.

[Dr Stu-Pid]

Their second I could not believe him. So poor. There were issues everywhere defensively so he doesn’t get all the blame at all but not like him to make such a pathetic attempt to win the ball when it could not have been crucial.

He tries to react and get his head on the ball as it comes back off the bar and just misses it which then means that he is off balance and can’t react and get off the ground when it bounces off the head of the Brentford player.  The defending all round was pretty poor, but I don’t think it was due to any lack of effort as you are making out.

[ep1987]

He tries to react and get his head on the ball as it comes back off the bar and just misses it which then means that he is off balance and can’t react and get off the ground when it bounces off the head of the Brentford player.  The defending all round was pretty poor, but I don’t think it was due to any lack of effort as you are making out.

After the initial cross there was a clear lack of 'urgency' from Van Dijk to recover into a better position. He was very good when players were running at him 1v1 but fairly often this season he's held his position or meandered slowly toward developing danger when he needed to react sooner.

[mallin9]

Feel the thread title is not accurate at present, it’s great having the best defender in the world back but he’s not looked as assured as previous, understandable given what he’s coming back from. Overreacting here but I’d love to see Matip and Konate start on Sunday.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Feel the thread title is not accurate at present, it’s great having the best defender in the world back but he’s not looked as assured as previous, understandable given what he’s coming back from. Overreacting here but I’d love to see Matip and Konate start on Sunday.

Matip just had a nightmare of a game against Brentford, far worse than Van Dijk.  You're right, you're massively overreacting. Van Dijk is still our best defender, even if he isn't at his very best.

[Ghost Town]

The day thread titles on a fan site are required to be in alignment with the more negative ongoing assessments of a player is the day fandom finally eats itself.

Next you'll be telling me that we need to change player songs because Mo isn't technically a constitutionally accepted monarch of an African nation and statistics show that giving the ball to Bobby does not result in a net increase in goals scored on each and every single occasion

[El Lobo]

I tend to agree actually, change the thread title

[LiverBirdKop]

He's still at around 70% for me. Just a matter of playing time. He'll be ok.

[Drinks Sangria]

It's almost like it could perhaps take some time for him to come back from a horrendous knee injury and show the levels he did before.

I had a similar injury to VVD, I couldn't even play for 18 months and basically had to teach myself to run again when I did come back. I went from semi-pro player to bang average- kick around level with one injury. Probably not equitable comparison, but give him some time, he's done well enough so far.