Garth Crooks praises the performance of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk during the frustrating draw against Luton Town
Football pundit Garth Crooks has stated that Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk brought his A-game against Luton Town last weekend. The Reds dominated the Premier League game against Luton at Kenilworth Road but failed to convert their chances.
Van Dijk marshalled the defence alongside Ibrahima Konate and looked comfortable as they restricted the host to only eight shots all game. However, it was Luton who broke the deadlock through a counter-attack as the Liverpool players were caught out while appealing for a penalty.
The Reds equalised in the dying seconds through a header from Luis Diaz and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Liverpool have only themselves to blame as they displayed complacency and suffered the consequences of a lapse in concentration.
However, the Reds would feel dismayed over two penalty decisions, one of which involved a blatant handball before the goal. Additionally, Van Dijk was wrestled down during the corner kick that led to Luton’s counter. The incident went unaddressed, adding to the number of baffling calls from referees against Liverpool this season.
Crooks selected Van Dijk on his Team of the Week (h/t BBC) while pointing out his fantastic performance against Luton. He believes the Dutchman was the lone Reds star who could hold his head high in an otherwise unflattering night out. He wrote:
“The only Liverpool player who brought his A-game to Kenilworth Road was Virgil van Dijk. What a poor show this was by the six-time European champions.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp appointed Van Dijk as the Liverpool captain after the departure of former captain Jordan Henderson. The 32-year-old is also the captain of the Netherlands national team. The leadership qualities are coming out to the fore now as he grows more accustomed to the role at Anfield.
The Dutchman has been a pivotal part of Liverpool’s success under Klopp since joining the Reds in January of 2018. With several senior stars having left Anfield last summer, Van Dijk’s presence makes up for the power vacuum that could otherwise have proven insurmountable. He is yet to be dribbled past this season, once again lending comparisons to his pre-ACL aura of invincibility.
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Many fans and critics believed that the Dutchman was past his best due to age and injury. However, Van Dijk has shown his pre-injury class under Klopp’s “Liverpool 2.0” with a new playing approach. The Liverpool captain is leading by example and seems to be enjoying his football once again. The Kopites are hoping that Van Dijk can win his first major trophy as their captain at the end of this season.
