Craig Burley launches angry rant after Liverpool captain appeared to be at fault for Sunderland’s goal at Anfield that ultimately gave the visitors a point
As Liverpool’s team leader, captain and spokesperson, Virgil van Dijk was never afraid of self-criticism. After last month’s defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, the Dutchman described the result and run of performances as a “chaos” and said there was a collective responsibility to turn things around and that each player should look at themselves in the mirror.
But Van Dijk has largely escaped serious criticism, despite conceding a bizarre penalty in the subsequent game against PSV Eindhoven. Mainly, his central defensive partner Ibrahima Konate and big-money left-back Milos Kerkes are the most notable.
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But the situation changed emphatically after one TV critic labeled Van Dijk a “coward”. And in an astonishing rant, former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley claimed Van Dijk was “worse than anyone else” during Liverpool’s difficult period.
“I’m tired of sitting here (and hearing people say) ‘Mo Salah isn’t playing well, Florian Wirtz hasn’t found his feet, Alexander Isak, Ekitike, the midfield dynamic has changed’. He (Van Dijk) is a barometer of what’s going wrong this year,” Burley told ESPN.
“He’s supposed to be a leader. All he’s done all season is throw Kelkes under the bus and throw his arm in the air. He makes as many mistakes as any other player. You watch him every game and you think… ‘What’s he doing?'”
Van Dijk gave the ball away for Sunderland’s goal at Anfield on Wednesday, with Kemsuddin Talbi’s shot giving the Liverpool captain a crucial deflection. Burley then slammed Van Dijk’s contribution, saying: “He’s doing everything wrong. He passes the ball, he doesn’t try to close it in, he turns his back on him like a coward.”
Kerkes was on the bench against Sunderland along with Mo Salah, who has continued to attract attention this season. And Burley thinks it’s “funny” that Van Dijk hasn’t received similar attention.
Burley, who also played for Celtic and Derby County and has 46 caps for Scotland, continued: “It’s absolutely crazy. He (Van Dijk) seems to be coming back relatively unscathed and that’s because of everyone else.”
“But for me, at the back, he was as bad as any other player. And I think that goal and the way he refused to finish it and the fact that he turned his back on him is typical of his performance this season.”
Liverpool drew with Sunderland, leaving them 11 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal. Their title defense looks all but hopeless well before the season reaches its halfway point.
Arne Slott’s side have lost six games in the Premier League and will face Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday night. Daniel Farke’s side will no doubt be in high spirits after their surprise win over Chelsea in midweek.
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