Alan Shearer questions Virgil van Dijk amid Liverpool struggles

Van Dijk doesn’t come under fire often. For nearly a decade, he’s been one of Liverpool’s most reliable players, praised as much for his leadership as his defensive skills.

But this season hasn’t been his best, and Shearer pointed out that it’s an area Arne Slot needs to address.

He told BBC Sport: “Liverpool have been weak defensively at times. When you look all over the park, defensively, you have to look at midfield and how the forwards press. There is no doubt Virgil van Dijk has not been as good as he has been.”

Perceptions shift quickly depending on results. When Liverpool are picking up points, Van Dijk rarely faces much scrutiny. But during rough patches, even players of his stature aren’t immune.

The recent match against Wolves highlighted some issues, particularly when Van Dijk struggled with Tolu Arokodare leading up to their first goal. However, these problems seem more systemic than individual.

How Van Dijk’s numbers stack up against last season

A closer look at Virgil van Dijk’s Premier League numbers offers some context to Alan Shearer’s criticism. According to FotMob data, the Liverpool captain’s defensive involvement has dropped, with his tackles per 90 minutes falling from 1.03 last season to 0.59, while interceptions have also declined from 1.51 to 0.62.

However, the data also suggests improved efficiency in direct duels. Van Dijk is now winning around 75% of both his ground and aerial battles, up from roughly 69% and 72% respectively last season, indicating that although he is intervening less frequently, he remains highly effective when he does.

Liverpool were the top side in the Premier League last season, and they’re nowhere near that now. But the decline from the captain isn’t as steep as Shearer makes it out to be. Van Dijk still ranks among the most dominant aerial presences in Europe at both ends of the pitch, and he rarely gets beaten off the dribble.

There’s still plenty left in his game.