Jason Cundy has claimed that Virgil van Dijk deserves criticism and claimed that the Dutchman is “nowhere near” his previous best form.
The Dutchman started Liverpool’s dismal 4-1 Champions League loss to Napoli last night and was one of many to put in a lackluster performance.
The former Southampton man’s performance has led TalkSPORT pundit Cundy to question the No. 4’s ability since he returned from his knee injury sustained against Everton in 2020.
“Sorry, am I missing something? See the goals Alisson conceded tonight? Cundy asked listeners (via TEAMtalk).
“Are you watching Van Dijk defend? Can we have a grown up, grown up, big boy, put on your pants conversation about Liverpool?
“Why are [supporters] happy to come to this station and praise when they do this and that, but when there’s a mistake it’s ‘this, that and that’.
“Put on your big boy pants and have a big boy pants conversation about Van Dijk.”
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“Nobody ever says it. They believe he is the greatest center midfielder this country has ever seen.
“The truth is that they have had two good seasons and won a Premier League.
“He has had an injury and I feel sorry for him, but the truth is that he is not even close to that.”
The 31-year-old is still one of the best central defenders in the world, but he hasn’t done so so far this season.
He awarded a penalty against Fulham on the opening day of the Premier League season and fouled Napoli striker Victor Osimhen inside the 18-yard box last night.
It feels like every time a team plays a ball behind our defense, they score or come very close to scoring.
Joe Gomez had a night to forget in Naples and although we conceded in the first two minutes of the second half, the introduction of Joel Matip at half time seemed to stabilize the ship and we look a much stronger team when he is on the side.
Hopefully the Cameroonian can now stay fit and re-establish his partnership with van Dijk to ensure we see the best of the pair in the coming weeks and months.
#Ep58 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Qualifying Liverpool’s UCL group, making a new signing… and more!
