Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson believes that one key player in Arne Slot’s side has been ‘getting away with murder’ so far this season.
A 3-3 draw with Leeds United at the weekend continued what has been a torturous start to the season for Liverpool.
Just two wins from their last ten Premier League games has the Reds in tenth place and their title defence already in tatters before the turn of the year.
What’s more, the ongoing saga involving Mohamed Salah after the Egyptian’s explosive comments at the weekend points to a club that appears disjointed and erratic both on and off the pitch.
While Salah claimed that he has been scapegoated for Liverpool’s bad form after three games out of the starting XI, the Egyptian forward is far from the only player to have had their performances placed under the microscope so far this campaign.
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Record-breaking summer signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have both come under fire for their meagre attacking returns since joining the club.
And further back, Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate have both been singled out for their error-strewn displays in defence.
But Johnson believes that Van Dijk is just as much to blame for Liverpool’s shoddy defensive record this season, with the former Reds full-back suggesting that the Dutchman’s performances have not received sufficient scrutiny due to his reputation.
‘Virgil van Dijk has been at fault just as much as Ibrahima Konate recently, if not more,’ he told BetWright online casino UK.
‘Because his name is Van Dijk, he gets away with murder. I still think he’s a world class player and has been for a long time, but at the minute, he’s been nowhere near his best level – and neither have the players around him.
‘I think Konate has been thrown under the bus a little bit, which is understandable because he’s made a few mistakes recently, but so has everybody.
‘The entire Liverpool back line keeps making errors and Van Dijk is no exception.’
In an effort to salvage their season and rectify their leaky defence, Johnson urged Liverpool to dip back into the market in January and sign Marc Guehi, the Crystal Palace captain who saw his move to Anfield fall through on deadline day over the summer.
‘Liverpool need a new centre-back in January,’ he added. ‘The first player that comes to mind is Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.
‘Whether he can join a club like Liverpool and kick on is a question, but I think he needs to be given that chance to prove himself at the top level like he’s done for England.
‘I think he would be a great signing for Liverpool. They definitely need to get in some players in January.’
Liverpool will look to get back to winning ways on Tuesday night but face a daunting task away in the Champions League against Inter Milan.
‘We face a very good and strong team, that has done really well this season in the league and the Champions League,’ Slot said when asked about the challenge awaiting his side.
‘They have been a big force in the Champions League for the last three seasons, twice playing the final and once going out on penalties against Atletico Madrid, which unfortunately we did last season against Paris Saint-Germain.
‘We know we are going to face a very strong team tomorrow and that’s always the biggest challenge there is in a game: it is always the team you face and individuals you face. They have a very disciplined team, a very experienced team as well and a lot of quality.’
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