As the leader, captain and spokesperson of the Liverpool squad, Virgil van Dijk has not shied away from self-criticism. Following the defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield last month, the Dutchman labelled the run of results and performances as a “mess”, calling for collective responsibility to turn things around and urging each player to take a hard look at themselves.
However, Van Dijk has largely avoided serious criticism, even after conceding a peculiar penalty in the subsequent loss to PSV. Primarily, his central defensive partner, Ibrahima Konate and big-money left-back Milos Kerkez, have faced the most scrutiny in the backline.
But that has now dramatically changed with one TV pundit branding Van Dijk a “coward”. In an extraordinary outburst, former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has claimed on ESPN that Van Dijk “has been as bad as anybody else” during Liverpool‘s challenging spell.
Burley said: “I’m fed up sitting here and (listening to people saying) ‘it’s Mo Salah not playing well, Florian Wirtz can’t find his feet, Alexander Isak, Ekitike, the midfield’s dynamic has changed’. He (Van Dijk) is the barometer of what is wrong this year.
“He is supposed to be the leader. All he has done all season is throw Kerkez under the bus, (and) throw his arms up in the air. He is making as many mistakes as any other player. Every game, you could watch him and go … ‘what’s he doing?’.”
Van Dijk surrendered possession for Sunderland’s goal at Anfield on Wednesday, with Chemsdine Talbi’s effort then taking a crucial deflection off the Liverpool captain. Burley was particularly scathing about Van Dijk’s display, stating: “He does everything wrong. Pass, doesn’t close it down and turns his back like a coward.”
Kerkez was among the substitutes for the Sunderland fixture, alongside Mohamed Salah, who has also faced scrutiny this season. Burley believes it is ‘crazy’ that Van Dijk has escaped similar levels of criticism.
Burley, who also represented Celtic and Derby County and earned 46 caps for Scotland, added: “It’s just absolutely crazy. He (Van Dijk) seems to be coming out of it relatively unscathed, and it is everybody else’s fault.
“But for me, at the back, he has been as bad as anybody else. And I think that goal and the way that he refused to close it down and the fact that he turned his back is the epitome of his performances this season.”
Liverpool’s draw with Sunderland means they now trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by 11 points. Their title defence appears virtually over well before the campaign has reached its midpoint.