Topic: Virgil Van Dijk (Cpt)

[Andy82lfc]

Love how he makes usually confident attackers shit themselves, Richarlison one on one running at goal he could see the script already so just blazed it at goal from way out. Knew he didn’t stand a chance. Was great to watch.

[didi shamone]

Love how he makes usually confident attackers shit themselves, Richarlison one on one running at goal he could see the script already so just blazed it at goal from way out. Knew he didn’t stand a chance. Was great to watch.

Was gonna post the same. Looked like a small kid seeing a big kid on the way to steal the ball so he just wellies it.

[RayPhilAlan]

Love how he makes usually confident attackers shit themselves, Richarlison one on one running at goal he could see the script already so just blazed it at goal from way out. Knew he didn’t stand a chance. Was great to watch.

Van Dijk has a way of playing chicken with attackers. Often attackers are just waiting for a defender to commit themselves so they can beat them. But Virgil waits for the attacker to commit himself instead, and while he waits he closes in on the attacker so their options are reducing by the second. If Virgil doesn't get close enough to win the ball, the normal other result is a wild shot like Richarlison's one.
Sissoko being forced to shoot on his left foot for Spurs a couple of years ago, when he really wanted to pass it to Son, remains the prime example.

[Funky_Gibbons]

Imagine booing the guy your goalkeeper assaulted and injured for a year.

Stay classy. 

[Hazell]

Love how he makes usually confident attackers shit themselves, Richarlison one on one running at goal he could see the script already so just blazed it at goal from way out. Knew he didn’t stand a chance. Was great to watch.

Van Dijk has a way of playing chicken with attackers. Often attackers are just waiting for a defender to commit themselves so they can beat them. But Virgil waits for the attacker to commit himself instead, and while he waits he closes in on the attacker so their options are reducing by the second. If Virgil doesn't get close enough to win the ball, the normal other result is a wild shot like Richarlison's one.
Sissoko being forced to shoot on his left foot for Spurs a couple of years ago, when he really wanted to pass it to Son, remains the prime example.

He knows how to reduce risk eh? Don't think I've seen a defender as adept as him as doing that (amongst many other things).

[thaddeus]

He knows how to reduce risk eh? Don't think I've seen a defender as adept as him as doing that (amongst many other things).

Carra was very good at it also.  He lacked Virgil's turn of pace and quality on the ball though!

I'm delighted to see Virgil back to pretty much his best.  His decision not to rush back for the Euros is looking very sensible.

[MonsLibpool]

I admire his courage to take that freekick.

[RyanBabel19]

Love how he makes usually confident attackers shit themselves, Richarlison one on one running at goal he could see the script already so just blazed it at goal from way out. Knew he didn’t stand a chance. Was great to watch.

Funny how Richarlison came out with this Van Dijks overrated shite a while back but when he plays him this is the result. Desperate to moam to the ref for help instead of skinning this 'overrated' player

[Hazell]

Carra was very good at it also.  He lacked Virgil's turn of pace and quality on the ball though!

I'm delighted to see Virgil back to pretty much his best.  His decision not to rush back for the Euros is looking very sensible.

I thought Carra was ok at it and got better as he got older (as you do). Van Dijk is just so much better at it than almost anyone I've seen. He was just imperious yesterday.

[RyanBabel19]

Carra was very good at it also.  He lacked Virgil's turn of pace and quality on the ball though!

I'm delighted to see Virgil back to pretty much his best.  His decision not to rush back for the Euros is looking very sensible.

Carra had his moments but over commited plenty. Definitely think Sami was better at it

[slaphead]

Love how he makes usually confident attackers shit themselves, Richarlison one on one running at goal he could see the script already so just blazed it at goal from way out. Knew he didn’t stand a chance. Was great to watch.

He beats defenders in their head just as much as does physically. I can't remember who but I heard a player who played in the Prem on about him recently on the radio and they said their confidence levels just dropped when they see Van Djik on the team sheet because they know that in the air, on the ground, speed and reading the game he is immense. And the last thing left would be to get under his skin but he was way too cool for that and that doesn't work either. He's like a human This is Anfield sign

[Larse]

I get tribalism in football and all that. Every footballfan lives in their own reality where you club is the greates and all your players cant do anything wrong and all other teams players are c*nts.

But Everton fans are something else for booing van dijk yesterday. For getting his season ended last year by their goalkeeper who didn't even get a yellow for it...

[scatman]

I admire his courage to take that freekick.

he used to take a few at celtic and even scored a few

[tubby]

I admire his courage to take that freekick.

Don't think courage had anything to do with it, he just wanted REVENGE.

[Jookie]

I did think everyone was far too early with the ‘he’s back!’ shouts earlier in the season - he was a long way off it. But he’s certainly very close to being back now. Remarkable come back really.

He's been very good but not back to his best on a consistent basis. That's completely understandable and it may take 6-12 months to really hit the heights of 2018-2020 again. In the meantime he'll still be the best or amongst the best centre backs in World football.

Last night I thought he had a very good game except for their goal. I actually thought he was most culpable in allowing Richarlison to easy collect the ball and pick a pass. It's not a glaring mistake and one where TAA tracking Gray and Matip getting pulled out position by Rondon's run were a factor. But if Virgil just tracks Richarlison I think he plays a simple lay back away from goal and the potentially opportunity is gone for them.

Like I said Virgil played really well, as he has done for most of the season.

[Geppvindh's]

What a pass.

[newterp]

What a pass.

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

What a pass.

So smooth and effortless, yet so beautiful.

[RyanBabel19]

Sublime pass and he's getting better each week

That being said that bit of defending against Traore was criminal

[KurtVerbose]

By his impossibly high standards he wasn't having a great game, then.....

[stonecold_jpm]

That ball!

[Ray K]

What a pass.

Sexy as fuck.

Pass wasn't too bad either, etc etc and so on.

[Samie]

Virj already setting up his retirement plans. 

[mickeydocs]

When is he back from isolation?

[red_Mark1980]

When is he back from isolation?

If the tests were on the day of the Newcastle game I don't think they make Leeds just.

Thiago obviously doesn't

[SamLad]

When is he back from isolation?

Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones
The trio all registered suspected positive for Covid ahead of Thursday night's 3-1 defeat of Newcastle at Anfield and are currently self-isolating. When they might be back very much depends on when they tested positive.

NHS rules state that "if you test positive, your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test, if you did not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days". If it was on the day of the game the trio tested positive then their final day isolating will be Boxing Day.

Therefore, they will miss the visit of Leeds United at Anfield.
Potential return: Leicester (a), Tuesday 28 December.

Thiago Alcantara
The Spain international was the latest Liverpool player to contract Covid and was absent at Spurs.
It is unclear when Thiago tested positive. However, a Reds statement said that all players and staff members were tested on Saturday and Sunday. That suggests that the former Bayern Munich midfielder could have tested positive on Friday when arriving for training.

If that is the case then his final day of self-isolating might be on the day of the Leicester clash.
Potential return date: Chelsea (a), Sunday 2 January.

Jordan Henderson
The Liverpool captain was also absent against Spurs. It was through illness, although not Covid related. When Henderson is back available could very much depend on how ill he is.

Given the Reds' current problems in the engine room, he will likely want to be back as soon as possible. It’s likely that he would have been rested for the League Cup quarter-final against Leicester at Anfield, regardless.

Potential return date: Leeds (h), Sunday 26 December.

Divock Origi
The forward hasn't played since his match-winner in the 2-1 win at AC Milan in the Champions League earlier this month. Origi has missed the past three matches with a minor injury.

Klopp will be hoping the Belgium international is available for the clash with Leicester in the cup so he can give the likes of Mo Salah and Diogo Jota a rest ahead of the busy festive period.
Potential return: Leicester (h), Wednesday 22 December.

Nat Phillips
The defender would have likely been given an outing against Leicester in the League Cup had he been available. However, Phillips - who could be sold in the January transfer window - remains absent with a fractured cheekbone he suffered against Milan.
Potential return: January

[stara]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/Sm9D0IGT-xI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/Sm9D0IGT-xI</a>

Now I know, why he is injured ;-)

[Samie]

[Boaty McBoatface]

7SO games?

[richmiller1]

I think the only conspicuous difference between post and pre injury Virg is how passive he now seems in the opposition box at set pieces. He never really scored many but his combative presence seemed to be a factor in many of the goals we did score.

Somehow we are back to late Benitez era levels of ineffectiveness at corners. Jota's head or bust. Yesterday we honestly might as well just of returned the ball each time we were awarded one.

[Suareznumber7]

Somehow we are back to late Benitez era levels of ineffectiveness at corners. Jota's head or bust. Yesterday we honestly might as well just of returned the ball each time we were awarded one.

Aren't we the highest scoring team in the league from corners this year?

[killer-heels]

Aren't we the highest scoring team in the league from corners this year?

Like subs, it’s something everybody thinks their team is shit at.

[Wullie160975]

Could he have done more with the goal yesterday? Thought he turned sideways which opened up the goal.

[farawayred]

Could he have done more with the goal yesterday? Thought he turned sideways which opened up the goal.

My take on the situation is that VVD moved to cover for Matip, who was already behind Lookman, and covered the far corner to narrow the angle for Ali. I don't thin that Van Dijk could have done much more.

[RK7]

My take on the situation is that VVD moved to cover for Matip, who was already behind Lookman, and covered the far corner to narrow the angle for Ali. I don't thin that Van Dijk could have done much more.

I thought exactly the same, left Lookman with just the option of shooting near post which Alisson should have covered. I thought Virgil was superb last night, looked back to his old self.

[Yorkykopite]

I thought exactly the same, left Lookman with just the option of shooting near post which Alisson should have covered. I thought Virgil was superb last night, looked back to his old self.

Virg was great, you're right. As was Matip. The defence was basically as sound as you'd want them to be. People are not giving enough to credit to Lookman. The initial run was powerful and intelligent and he was in maximum control of the ball and balanced enough to give himself options by the time he hit the penalty box at pace. The centre backs were on a losing wicket by then. But it still took a brilliant strike from Lookman. The keeper had no chance with the shot. Although he almost got there. What more can you say? Just tip your hat to the striker. 

[RedG13]

Could he have done more with the goal yesterday? Thought he turned sideways which opened up the goal.

He was covering the far Post so the goalie could cover the near Post along with forcing the shot from 13 meters. It hit with a lot of Power which is what threw off Alisson. From where it was shot with the Defender it a pretty lower percentage chance. Stat bomb had the chance at .1(wish it would give 2 digits but it somewhere from .10-.19 chance) But that based on distance quality etc. I don't think it has velocity on it.

[newterp]

Is he really all that?

[Clint Eastwood]

Probably won't go down well but that's two games in a row where he's inadequately covered his partner and it's led to a goal. Against Leicester he's too casual getting across and leaves the near post gaping, and today he just doesn't try.

[farawayred]

Van Dijk didn't have a great game. Gave the ball away a few times, wasn't synchronized with Konate for long periods (one notable example is when Rudiger failed to score a header)... The whole team seems to be off, and it maybe it's the effect of that midfield in front of the CBs, but we need to get our act together or we're playing for top four only.