Topic: Virgil Van Dijk (Cpt)

[Coolie High]

He's playing well, just not back to his Playstation cheat code level yet.  Give him a bit of time.

Should probably say it quietly, but I think Konate or Gomez alongside him will help.  I can't see it being too long.

I feel the same for whatever reason I don’t know why, Matip has been excellent again this season but I just love Gomez and VVD partnership that bit more.

[CraigDS]

I feel the same for whatever reason I don’t know why, Matip has been excellent again this season but I just love Gomez and VVD partnership that bit more.

So do I. I think Matip is very good, very very good, but prefer the Gomez / VVD partnership.

[RyanBabel19]

We kept a lot of clean sheets with Virgil and Gomez together. I do feel you can see the difference in experience in how Matip and Gomez handle head to head battles with a forward though.

[CraigDS]

We kept a lot of clean sheets with Virgil and Gomez together. I do feel you can see the difference in experience in how Matip and Gomez handle head to head battles with a forward though.

They're very different defenders. Matip isn't as fast so for that reason he's had to learn how to handle a forward in other ways, which he does excellently, plus at 6ft 5 he's obv great in the air. Gomez can afford to be slightly further away and front footed because he has that immense recovery speed. Both have their advantages for sure.

[RyanBabel19]

They're very different defenders. Matip isn't as fast so for that reason he's had to learn how to handle a forward in other ways, which he does excellently, plus at 6ft 5 he's obv great in the air. Gomez can afford to be slightly further away and front footed because he has that immense recovery speed. Both have their advantages for sure.

I'm talking more on regards to mentality and ability to keep things in your favour when it isn't all going your way. A few times with Gomez i've noticed if he's up against it early on, his head can go and his performance never really recovers in that particular game then you see a dip in the performance. It doesn't happen often but you don't tend to see it with Matip, again most likely due to experience. Matips excellent at just continuing like the first whistle just went if he allows a good chance to the opposition or if we concede.

[CraigDS]

I'm talking more on regards to mentality and ability to keep things in your favour when it isn't all going your way. A few times with Gomez i've noticed if he's up against it early on, his head can go and his performance never really recovers in that particular game then you see a dip in the performance. It doesn't happen often but you don't tend to see it with Matip, again most likely due to experience. Matips excellent at just continuing like the first whistle just went if he allows a good chance to the opposition or if we concede.

I can't recall Gomez's head going in any games that I remember. No more so than Matip having a poor game here or there anyway.

[scatman]

I can't recall Gomez's head going in any games that I remember. No more so than Matip having a poor game here or there anyway.

Probably Villa away would be one I guess. but really Joe is a great centre back, I prefer Joel, he's more experienced so at the top of his potential. Gomez is still bloody young, its easy to forget as he's been here for so long and is only getting better and better.

[CraigDS]

Probably Villa away would be one I guess. but really Joe is a great centre back, I prefer Joel, he's more experienced so at the top of his potential. Gomez is still bloody young, its easy to forget as he's been here for so long and is only getting better and better.

I mean the Villa game was hardly just him!

[Peabee]

I'm talking more on regards to mentality and ability to keep things in your favour when it isn't all going your way. A few times with Gomez i've noticed if he's up against it early on, his head can go and his performance never really recovers in that particular game then you see a dip in the performance. It doesn't happen often but you don't tend to see it with Matip, again most likely due to experience. Matips excellent at just continuing like the first whistle just went if he allows a good chance to the opposition or if we concede.

Gomez is still young, only 24, so his peak years as a CB are still to come.

I also think now we have Konate, the club are being extra careful with Gomez after his injury last year. His minutes will be managed. I’m also glad Southgate has said he will be extra cautious about picking Gomez for the national team. Hodgson would have already picked him to “test his resolve”.

[Gogeqac]

So do I. I think Matip is very good, very very good, but prefer the Gomez / VVD partnership.

Matip brings that passing ability through the opposition midfield that is so important to unlock defenses (like the one to Jota against City). He does create threat with his passing, no other CB got this sort of skill in our team, not even VVD (he’s for sure the best for long balls). Unless we need extra pace for some specific reason, I don’t think Gomez will back in the team for important games. But, as always, in Klopp we trust...

[farawayred]

Give VVD time to get to his best, it may take half a season. Matip is carrying him at times as I don't think Gomez can. For now, Matip/VVD is our best CB partnership. I'm not even sure if Gomez will come to his best himself, he's been OK in one game but he's not looked always sharp. Both need time.

[jillcwhomever]

Give VVD time to get to his best, it may take half a season. Matip is carrying him at times as I don't think Gomez can. For now, Matip/VVD is our best CB partnership. I'm not even sure if Gomez will come to his best himself, he's been OK in one game but he's not looked always sharp. Both need time.

Gomez has already shown this season that he can play a crucial part he's lost none of his pace, so why are you questioning him while making a point about whether he'll be back to his best? Both of them will need time to get back to where they were, that's just natural.

[RyanBabel19]

Gomez is insanely good and the fact he's still so young just goes to show how good he is. Injuries are the main thing that have held him back but time is very much on his side, if he can stay fit, he'll be an incredible CB as he gets older.

Konate looks brilliant already too, just needs to get used to our way of playing, especially the high line. I think that's standard, it must take a while to adjust to that

Matip is still underrated for me, one of the best CBs we've had IMO

[mrantarctica]

Gomez is insanely good and the fact he's still so young just goes to show how good he is. Injuries are the main thing that have held him back but time is very much on his side, if he can stay fit, he'll be an incredible CB as he gets older.

Konate looks brilliant already too, just needs to get used to our way of playing, especially the high line. I think that's standard, it must take a while to adjust to that

Matip is still underrated for me, one of the best CBs we've had IMO

We've got 4 really top notch CBs who on ability alone could probably start for a lot of teams in the league. Let's hope they can remain fit and in form.

[farawayred]

Gomez has already shown this season that he can play a crucial part he's lost none of his pace, so why are you questioning him while making a point about whether he'll be back to his best? Both of them will need time to get back to where they were, that's just natural.

Cautious optimism on my part, Jill. Just that the odds are stacked against both Van Dijk and Gomez getting to their pre-injury levels.

[MonsLibpool]

Virg doesn't look as strong which is understandable given how long he was out for. He'll regain it with time.

[MonsLibpool]

Cautious optimism on my part, Jill. Just that the odds are stacked against both Van Dijk and Gomez getting to their pre-injury levels.

I'm optimistic Virgil can get back to his cheat code form because he's still as quick he was. His performances indicate a bit of ring rust which he'll iron out. He has still been very good.

[RyanBabel19]

We've got 4 really top notch CBs who on ability alone could probably start for a lot of teams in the league. Let's hope they can remain fit and in form.

100% we’ve got an amazing set of CBs available

[killer-heels]

Article on The Athletic today showing that Van Dijk has seen a drop in his numbers on the ground, in the air and in his passing compared to previous seasons, understandably.

[Red-Soldier]

Article on The Athletic today showing that Van Dijk has seen a drop in his numbers on the ground, in the air and in his passing compared to previous seasons, understandably.

Yep.  No great shock there.  I'm not expecting him to be back to his best yet.  Think he'll start improving his game in the new year.

[TepidT2O]

Talking a good 9 months before peak performance returns I would imagine

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Talking a good 9 months before peak performance returns I would imagine

Don't know about that,he was coming back from a bad injury when we bought him,might be time to flog him to Newcastle.

[bornandbRED]

Think this whole season is essentially a period of re-introduction for him.

[Ski]

VVD back to scoring ways. Next stop Watford!

[TepidT2O]

Why the hell is he playing against Gibraltar?

[jillcwhomever]

Why the hell is he playing against Gibraltar?

Least he’s scored perhaps he will get one for us now.

[dutchkop]

trainings match for the defenders.
6-0 now Malen scores

[Gifted Right Foot]

I think he's due to score one of those headers.

He's gone and wasted his comeback header for the Netherlands against some randoms 

[newterp]

Can we please a get a calm as you like gif from today??

You all know what I'm talking about. I just laughed when he did it.

[Boaty McBoatface]

[newterp]

Brilliant! Thanks!

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

He's gone and wasted his comeback header for the Netherlands against some randoms 

No, this was his real comeback header.

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

That's brave from the opponent. He actually tried to push mountain.

[AndyMuller]

Is he back better than ever? Whole defence was poor but he looked below standard.

[killer-heels]

Is he back better than ever? Whole defence was poor but he looked below standard.

He definitely looks really rusty but hasn’t it been established that it’s very difficult for a player to come back to top form instantly after returning to play after so much time out?

[AndyMuller]

He definitely looks really rusty but hasn’t it been established that it’s very difficult for a player to come back to top form instantly after returning to play after so much time out?

Well then hasn’t that answered my question? He’s not back better than ever is he 

[tubby]

Feels to me that he still has that casual approach to his play that he did pre-injury (because he's levels above every attacker).  But his body isn't quite at that level yet, and he's just slightly off.

[ac]

He got done a few times. Agree with earlier comment that his brain and body aren't fully in sync yet. He has the attributes to largely get away with it though. May well be towards the end of this season/early next that we see him at his very best

[JackWard33]

He was really poor but then he’s missed basically a year and come back to play almost every game club and country 
I don’t really understand why we’re playing him every game at the moment - it’s not like we don’t have options

[killer-heels]

I’m no sports scientist and of course he is important but are we playing him too much?