Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp appears to point his finger at Virgil van Dijk following Nottingham Forest loss
According to BT Sport (h/t The Mirror), Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp appeared to take a potshot at Virgil van Dijk following his side’s shock 1-0 loss away to Nottingham Forest.
The Reds were unable to make the most of their momentum and put in a dispirited performance away at the City Ground. In the end, it was former Red, Taiwo Awoniyi who settled the tie for Forest with his 55th-minute strike.
The loss is another setback for Liverpool in a season that has not been kind to them. But then, the Merseysiders have no one to blame but themselves for the defeat.
Speaking after the game, Klopp mentioned his side had opportunities to put the result to bed. Roberto Firmino and then Van Dijk in particular had several opportunities to find the net. But they failed to do so and it cost us dear.
“Bobby first-half, Virgil two times, three times, you have to put the game to bed because the goal from us is a big mistake. Apart from that, all the chances we gave them because we played too often wrong passes in the centre. It happened anyway.”
Van Dijk is widely considered the best centre-back in world football but his stock has taken a beating this season. The Dutchman has been far from his imperious best and does not appear to instil his usual confidence at the back.
Van Dijk has been one of the cornerstones of Klopp’s success at Anfield. When the chips are down, one would expect the senior stars to step up but the Dutchman has been found wanting in that regard.
If the Reds are to turn their season around, Van Dijk will need to take accountability for his performance and raise the performance levels. As long as the rearguard does its job, Liverpool’s task further upfield will only get easier.
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It would be amiss to say that Klopp has called out Van Dijk in his post-match presser at Forest. However, the fact remains that the German tactician will do well to call a spade a spade and namedrop those players who are not doing justice to their reputations.
