“He got everything wrong” – Liverpool star slammed for performance against Sunderland | OneFootball

Van Dijk Under Scrutiny as Liverpool Falter Again

Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland offered another uneasy snapshot of a campaign drifting off script. For years, Virgil van Dijk embodied authority at the heart of this team, a constant presence as systems shifted and teammates rotated. Yet this season, even he has begun to feel the strain. That sense crystallised across two damaging games, first in the Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven and then under the Anfield lights against Sunderland.

Defensive Errors and Nicol’s Stinging Verdict

Van Dijk’s part in Chemsdine Talbi’s opener spoke to a defender wrestling with rhythm. His pass towards Alexis Mac Allister lacked conviction and Sunderland punished it clinically. Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol was quick to highlight how the slip did not end with the misplaced ball.

Photo: IMAGO

“I’ve actually not criticised Van Dijk that much this season but tonight, there is absolutely no question he has to bear a whole lot of responsibility, not just for the goal,” he said on ESPN FC.

“What he did wrong, he gives the ball away, tries to play in Mac Allister who isn’t reading the pass. Okay, so what do you do when you make a mistake? You try to make up for it. In trying to make up for it he could have stepped out and closed the ball because he had Kerkez who had already come in beside him, so he didn’t need to back off. But he did.

“When he sees Talbi going to strike the ball he doesn’t step forward, he just turns sideways. What happened to make yourself big, try and get in front of the ball? He got absolutely everything wrong.”

Nicol did not stop there, questioning Van Dijk’s late-game decision making as Liverpool chased a winner.

“And then what we saw at the end in my opinion is down to your captain. If you want to go forward and win the game that’s fine, but the first thing you’ve got to do is make sure that things at the back are sorted before you do it. He just sauntered up, didn’t even look. He’s there to organise and set the example and he absolutely didn’t do that tonight.”

Growing Concerns for Liverpool’s Defensive Core

For much of the season the focus has settled on Ibrahima Konate’s inconsistency. Now Liverpool must contend with their captain joining that conversation. One off-colour centre back is manageable, two quickly tilt a team into instability. Van Dijk remains vital to Liverpool’s structure, leadership and sense of calm, yet frustration appeared to cloud his judgement on Wednesday as he pushed forward in the closing moments and stayed there.

Liverpool depend on Van Dijk to be the anchor in turbulent spells. He has delivered that role often enough to earn patience, and he will surely rise again, but Sunderland’s visit served as a reminder that even their most reliable figure can feel the weight of a season like this.