The shadow of oneself: Van Dijk struggles with decline

The focus of criticism once aimed at Salah has now shifted to Van Dijk during another miserable night at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah has faced heavy criticism for his poor form this season, which led to him being benched for two consecutive Premier League matches. However, it was only when Salah was on the bench that attention turned to Virgil Van Dijk, the defensive leader during Liverpool’s most successful era, who is also struggling to regain his top form.

Van Dijk is 34, while Salah is 33, and both signed new two-year contracts last summer. This move was highly praised at Anfield, despite both players being in the twilight of their careers.

Liverpool has become more vulnerable since manager Arne Slot and the transfer department began a £450 million overhaul last summer, an investment that has yet to show its true value. Beyond systemic issues, Van Dijk’s loss of form has also contributed to Liverpool’s defensive collapse.

The poor form of Ibrahima Konate and Milos Kerkez’s failure to adapt at left-back have made things even harder for Van Dijk. Yet the Dutch center-back himself has visibly declined, evidenced by his panicked handball that led to a penalty in a heavy Champions League defeat against PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

Everything was summed up in the 67th minute against Sunderland when Chemsdine Talbi scored after Van Dijk lost possession and froze. The ball then slightly touched Van Dijk and changed direction following Talbi’s long-range shot, leaving Alisson helpless.

For a great defender like Van Dijk, the habit of turning his back during shots is truly puzzling and sometimes detrimental to Liverpool. The goal was somewhat unlucky for Liverpool, but it was a direct result of Van Dijk’s rare indecisiveness that created the dangerous situation.

Former England captain Steph Houghton commented on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Van Dijk lost the ball and immediately retreated. That was the wrong decision. He should have pushed forward. That hesitation leaves those around him unsure of what to do.”

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp also criticized Van Dijk on Sky Sports: “Last season Virgil barely made mistakes. He dominated every game. But now, he’s constantly making errors and lacks confidence in himself.”

Like Salah, Van Dijk’s class and illustrious career cannot be erased by a few bad months. However, this season he truly looks like a shadow of his former self. His ball recoveries are at their lowest since joining Liverpool, and his tackles and interceptions have also declined compared to last season.

Liverpool brought in many expensive new signings, and Van Dijk was expected to be the team’s emotional anchor. But that presence has been absent recently. No one is inspiring a squad that is clearly lost.

Van Dijk’s poor form, culminating in him pushing forward like an emergency striker, perfectly reflects Liverpool’s mediocre performances. The win against West Ham last weekend now seems more like an exception than a revival.

In previous seasons, Van Dijk was a beacon of light during Liverpool’s tough times. His excellent defending and attacking threat often saved The Kop. But now, with Van Dijk himself in severe decline, the crisis at Anfield is growing and becoming uncontrollable.

If a solution is not found soon, the foundation Jurgen Klopp built for this team could completely collapse. This is a scenario no Liverpool fan wants. More than ever, they need their captain back — a leader both in spirit and skill for the team.

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