Ex-Spurs boss Tim Sherwood blames Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk for third Brighton goal
Liverpool drew 3-3 against Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield on Saturday afternoon. Leandro Trossard scored a hat-trick vs the Reds, and Roberto Firmino got a brace on the other end, with an Adam Webster own-goal making up for the three of Liverpool’s goals.
It was clearly not Liverpool’s best day on the field. The Reds were repeatedly off guard and out of position. Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right side of defence was completely dominated by Brighton’s forwards.
However, it was the defensive shape during the third goal Brighton scored which is the point of discussion. Joel Matip could only do so much with the pace of the winger. Virgil van Dijk let a cross slip right through his feet.
Luis Diaz could not mark his man on the far post as well. And there was not much left to do for James Milner who was dragged too central in defence with Trossard left virtually unmarked at the back post.
Former Tottenham Hotspur Manager, Tim Sherwood speaking to Premier League Productions (h/t Liverpool Echo) blamed Van Dijk for the third goal Liverpool conceded and rightly so.
“If you watch him (Van Dijk) here (for Brighton’s third goal), he just lumbers into position and that’s a switch off in concentration there.”
“It was very, very poor. Just get back into position and get your body shape correct. He just sticks his left leg out for the clearance and the ball goes underneath, it’s a poor error for someone of his quality.”
Worrisome form of Virgil
The goal was a collective mistake by the team, but Van Dijk was in a position wherein he could have seen the ball away and prevented the goal. As Sherwood said, the ball got to the winger behind the Dutchman from beneath his legs and Diaz was too far away from the Belgian winger to do anything about it.
Van Dijk could have gotten into position much earlier to clear the ball off. For someone of his stature, the mistake was appalling and not expected from him. As a senior member of the squad, he must lead by example and make sure that there is no room for mistakes.
Sherwood also suggested that Van Dijk get back “to the basics” a little bit and negate the scope of such mistakes leading to goals. But from a Liverpool fan’s perspective, one could only hope that Virgil finds his form again so that the club can get back to its absolute best.
If you’ve seen the former Southampton defender play in recent years, you would appreciate how well he did the basics. He barely tried anything fancy with his clearances and was virtually flawless when it came to simple interceptions, clearances, and tackles.
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Liverpool will play Rangers in their next feature, in a UEFA Champions League Group stage game on Tuesday. Hopefully, this draw against Brighton sparks a change in the players’ mentality and this match could be Liverpool’s turning point this season.
