Topic: Virgil Van Dijk (Cpt)

[Samie]

Klopp says 90 minutes today was really hard for him… so you have to wonder if he starts on Tuesday ….

On what planet do you think Virgil van Dijk isn't starting against Real Madrid in the Champions League? 

[JackWard33]

On what planet do you think Virgil van Dijk isn't starting against Real Madrid in the Champions League? 

On the one where I watched him play today and he wasn’t fully fit ?

[DelTrotter]

On what planet do you think Virgil van Dijk isn't starting against Real Madrid in the Champions League? 

  Indeed!

[Eeyore]

On what planet do you think Virgil van Dijk isn't starting against Real Madrid in the Champions League? 

Depends on how he recovers.

[Samie]

On the one where I watched him play today and he wasn’t fully fit ?

My point still stands you fool. 

[RedG13]

Klopp says 90 minutes today was really hard for him… so you have to wonder if he starts on Tuesday ….

Considering Klopp only used 4 subs. I thought before the game Virgil might be tough to play 90, was a little surprised he was not subbed off like 80ish(I know he wants to stay on and get the clean sheet)
I would expect him to play tuesday.

[TepidT2O]

On what planet do you think Virgil van Dijk isn't starting against Real Madrid in the Champions League? 

Yeah… I think you’re right there…

Still, he’s human…. Although the way he pinged the ball around today might make some doubt that

[duvva 💅]

Didn’t look like he’d been away, no rustiness at all. Hope he recovers well and is fully fit for Tuesday

[groove]

You forget just how many aerial balls he wins when he's not playing. Almost completely nullifies crossing as a threat for the opposition.

[Boaty McBoatface]

Looked much more like his old self. Long may it continue.

[KloppCorn]

https://twitter.com/theanfieldalert/status/1627314633345204230?s=46&t=ZG0D44jhLznnEaerfSPBsg

Screamed when I saw this. Commentators didn’t even notice 

[A Red Abroad]

https://twitter.com/theanfieldalert/status/1627314633345204230?s=46&t=ZG0D44jhLznnEaerfSPBsg

Screamed when I saw this. Commentators didn’t even notice 

Fekking Tyler going on about 'twin brothers'. 

[MonsLibpool]

https://twitter.com/theanfieldalert/status/1627314633345204230?s=46&t=ZG0D44jhLznnEaerfSPBsg

Screamed when I saw this. Commentators didn’t even notice 

There is a reason why we rarely lose when he's on the pitch. His calmness really helps the team.

[SinceSixtyFive]

You forget just how many aerial balls he wins when he's not playing. Almost completely nullifies crossing as a threat for the opposition.

Thats big Virgil for ya.

Winning all the headers even when hes not on the pitch 

[bornandbRED]

ACL has had a massive impact on him. He’s now got the turning circle of an oil tanker.

[killer-heels]

ACL has had a massive impact on him. He’s now got the turning circle of an oil tanker.

Not really sure what he did wrong.

[MonsLibpool]

Not really sure what he did wrong.

Our midfield got bossed. Not sure what Virg could do.

[Sat1]

ACL has had a massive impact on him. He’s now got the turning circle of an oil tanker.

Odd post

[KirkVanHouten]

ACL has had a massive impact on him. He’s now got the turning circle of an oil tanker.

I just don't understand this? He looked fine for mobility, outran attackers and took the ball a few times. The worst part of his game oddly was his heading, which was often to the opposition or into 50/50s.

[FlashGordon]

bornandbRED has been on this crusade for a long time.

[slaphead]

Doesn't matter how good you are. if the people in front of you lose possession time and time again and you have men running at you from all angles, you have no chance. He was massively let down by his team mates out there tonight

[groove]

I don't think he did anything wrong tonight particularly, but he is slower. There's no getting around that. Remember that time he kept pace with Adama Traore? That ain't gonna happen anymore. Still reads the game better than anyone around and defends the area exceptionally well.

[MonsLibpool]

I don't think he did anything wrong tonight particularly, but he is slower. There's no getting around that. Remember that time he kept pace with Adama Traore? That ain't gonna happen anymore. Still reads the game better than anyone around and defends the area exceptionally well.

Centrebacks don't need to be rapid. He's still quick enough but we're an absolute mess in the middle.

[number 168]

Doesn't matter how good you are. if the people in front of you lose possession time and time again and you have men running at you from all angles, you have no chance. He was massively let down by his team mates out there tonight

Doesn't help having a centre back partner who is a liability.

[elkun]

I really don't understand people saying he didn't do anything wrong. He is asleep the whole game and is just mentally not there. He doesn't tackle and every time he shows his back when a shot is made on goal. Agree 100% with what Carragher said about him today. If we had a better defender I would have put him on the bench, but unfortunately we don't have one.

[bornandbRED]

I really don't understand people saying he didn't do anything wrong. He is asleep the whole game and is just mentally not there. He doesn't tackle and every time he shows his back when a shot is made on goal. Agree 100% with what Carragher said about him today. If we had a better defender I would have put him on the bench, but unfortunately we don't have one.

He doesn’t commit to anything or ever get to the ball anymore. Everything is passive. It’s chalk and cheese compared to what he was - probably my favourite defender ever as well. Just as bad as Gomez today.

Leadership needed on the third goal - he’s standing at the back post. For the fifth, he doesn’t get anywhere near closing down Vinicius on the left wing.

[groove]

Centrebacks shouldn't need to tackle that often. It's about reading and positioning and intercepting more than anything. Your sitting mid should be the monster tackler (5+ successful challenges per game) and well...

I've seen him get criticism for Benzema's 2nd goal, and I don't buy it. He makes the probabilistically correct play at every turn, but he's just caught between a rock and a hard place (letting Vinny Jr a direct run at goal vs leaving some recovery for Benzema), then it's perfectly okay to go back on the line and not expect three of your teammates to completely buy the dummy.

[slaphead]

He doesn’t commit to anything or ever get to the ball anymore. Everything is passive. It’s chalk and cheese compared to what he was - probably my favourite defender ever as well. Just as bad as Gomez today.

He was not as bad as Gomez come on. Gomez was absolutely dreadful tonight

[MonsLibpool]

Centrebacks shouldn't need to tackle that often. It's about reading and position and intercepting more than anything. Your sitting mid should be the monster tackler (5+ successful challenges per game) and well...

I've seen him get criticism for Benzema's 2nd goal, and I don't buy it. He makes the probabilistically correct play at every turn, but he's just caught between a rock and a hard place (letting Vinny Jr a direct run at goal vs leaving some recovery for Benzema), then it's perfectly okay to go back on the line and not expect three of your teammates to completely buy the dummy.

Also, given how high we play, sensible defenders would be unwilling to commit to tackles because they can either leave exposed or get cheap cards.

[Saus76]

Soon as we get Konate back the better. Matip and Gomez have hardly been at the top of their game this season. An overhaul is needed with midfield a priority, but a new CB is equally important for me.

[BER]

Fucking Pickford!

Still good enough obviously but just not the collosus he was and probably never will be.

[HeartAndSoul]

Not the same player anymore. Lost that pace that he used to have and attackers don’t seem to be scared to have a go at him anymore.

[FlashGordon]

For all this lost his pace talk, it's still very rare to see a player actually go past him.

[Samie]

Not the same player anymore. Lost that pace that he used to have and attackers don’t seem to be scared to have a go at him anymore.

He''s barely lost any of it.  Funny how none of this crap was said about him last season.

[MonsLibpool]

He''s barely lost any of it.  Funny how none of this crap was said about him last season.

The only thing is that he's not as dominant in the air as he used to be. His pace is still very good for a centreback because it's more about the tactical element like positioning that matter.

[KloppCorn]

He’s still physically there nothing wrong with him at all. But he’s become weak in the air. Especially the opposition box. Maybe it’s our shit corners but he used to be such a threat in the opp box. He needs someone that challenge him but he is miles better than all our other cb’s.

[killer-heels]

The only thing is that he's not as dominant in the air as he used to be. His pace is still very good for a centreback because it's more about the tactical element like positioning that matter.

His aerial duel numbers are still brilliant.

[Coolie High]

He''s barely lost any of it.  Funny how none of this crap was said about him last season.

I said it straight away, and he has, not really the problem tonight though if your midfield is porous, the minimum they can do is keep the ball well, we don't do that either so the defence will always looked exposed in that case, add that to a couple fluke goals and you get this result.

[MonsLibpool]

His aerial duel numbers are still brilliant.

They've regressed a bit. Before, he used to win everything in the air.

[HeartAndSoul]

He''s barely lost any of it.  Funny how none of this crap was said about him last season.

What are you talking about? None of this shit was said about salah, hendo or Fabinho last season either. They’re older and the last 3-4 seasons they’ve had under their belt have took its toll on them. They’re just not the same players anymore. It’s hard to accept it but it’s the truth. We need to look to upgrade on each of these players within the next couple of transfer window as sad as it as. If we still had a peak salah VVD hendo and Fabinho, we wouldn’t be in this mess we’re in just now.