During Friday night’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth, Virgil van Dijk achieved career-best figures. Should Liverpool be alarmed, though?
Is a defender being busy necessarily positive? Surprisingly, the answer is generally ‘no’.
A more pertinent question is: should you be pleased when a defender performs effectively while being busy? On Friday, Virgil van Dijk delivered a standout performance, striving to contain Bournemouth’s offensive efforts.
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The Dutch international showcased remarkable skill and dominance against the Cherries, but in a manner diverging from his typical style.
The most striking statistic: Van Dijk recorded 17 clearances. This substantial number marks his highest in any Premier League appearance.
For context, his previous season-high was 13 clearances against Everton. The subsequent highest was 11 against Manchester United.
These were exceptional matches demanding unique tactical approaches. Friday was expected to be straightforward, yet the unusual data points continued to surface.
Thirteen of these clearances were headers, another personal record. Impressively, Van Dijk’s headed clearances alone equaled his best total from the previous season.
To further highlight the anomaly: Van Dijk accumulated 11 clearances across both encounters with Bournemouth last season. Friday presented a deviation, causing slight concern.
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Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth
Let’s not dwell solely on the negative, as Liverpool secured a victory and scored exceptional goals. That Federico Chiesa decider was truly a memorable moment.
However, Liverpool’s defense appeared vulnerable. Bournemouth consistently breached the press, targeting the defensive line with ample opportunities to deliver crosses.
Hence, Van Dijk’s numerous clearances.
Positionally, Liverpool’s setup wasn’t significantly altered from last season. The formation remained consistent, and the majority of players were familiar faces.
The primary changes, especially defensively, included the absence of Ryan Gravenberch in midfield, the deployment of highly offensive full-backs, and Florian Wirtz leading the initial midfield press.
These adjustments likely contributed to Liverpool’s increased vulnerability. With several new elements, it’s expected that the team’s solidity may not be as robust as last season.
Arne Slot must refine the team’s structure and rediscover last season’s defensive stability. Otherwise, questions arise regarding the team’s consistency and title contention prospects.
Van Dijk’s capabilities are finite. Liverpool cannot rely on him to execute 17 clearances every game if they aspire to compete at the highest level.
The team is currently undergoing a learning curve, and we are optimistic that these challenges will be addressed. For the moment, we appreciate Van Dijk’s presence in solidifying the defense as the squad adapts.
Let’s hope Friday’s performance was an isolated incident.
