Quick Read
- Virgil van Dijk has faced criticism for his defensive errors and declining form during Liverpool’s challenging 2025 season.
- Liverpool, under Van Dijk’s captaincy, is experiencing its worst run in over seventy years, currently sitting eighth in the Premier League.
- Van Dijk has emphasized personal accountability and resilience, supporting young teammate Florian Wirtz amid high expectations.
- He acknowledged that even star players like Mohamed Salah are not immune to being benched, highlighting a merit-based team culture.
- Van Dijk remains optimistic about Liverpool’s future, insisting that consistency and self-reliance are key to recovery.
Virgil van Dijk: From Defensive Titan to Scrutinized Captain
There was a time when Virgil van Dijk’s presence in Liverpool’s defense felt like an impenetrable wall. His arrival in 2018, for a record £75 million, didn’t just break transfer records—it changed the trajectory of the club. Instant impact followed: a debut goal in a Merseyside derby, a Champions League final just months later, and the foundation for a new era of success. But football, like life, offers no permanent guarantees. The 2025 season has brought fresh challenges, and the spotlight on Van Dijk now feels less celebratory, more interrogative.
Leadership Under Pressure: Van Dijk’s Response to Criticism
As Liverpool struggles through its worst run in over seventy years, Van Dijk’s role as captain has grown heavier. The familiar narrative of defensive solidity has faltered. Against Sunderland, a costly error—a misplaced pass, followed by indecision—led to a goal that summed up the team’s malaise. BBC Sport captured the moment: “Van Dijk gives the ball away and then he just drops off. It’s the wrong decision. He needs to go to the ball. Him not making the decision means that no-one else knows what to do.” Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp echoed this, noting Van Dijk’s shift from “imperious” to “second-guessing himself.”
The numbers reflect the reality: tackles, interceptions, and recoveries are down compared to previous seasons. The Dutchman’s leadership, once a beacon for teammates, is now questioned as Liverpool’s experienced squad searches for inspiration amid mediocrity. The team’s collective form has wavered, with defensive partners like Ibrahima Konate and Milos Kerkez also struggling to find their feet.
High Expectations and the Weight of Legacy
Van Dijk’s journey is entwined with the club’s modern history. He’s lifted two Premier League titles, a Champions League, FA Cup, and two EFL Cups. His legacy is secure, but football’s memory is short. This season, every mistake feels magnified. The captain’s recent deployment as an emergency striker in desperate moments underlines Liverpool’s ongoing search for solutions.
Yet, Van Dijk is no stranger to pressure. He understands the expectations that come with a hefty price tag—a lesson he now shares with new teammates like Florian Wirtz. Wirtz arrived as Liverpool’s first £100m signing, carrying the hopes and scrutiny of fans and pundits alike. Van Dijk offered advice rooted in experience and empathy: “You can talk about it as much as you want, do whatever you want, but you have to deal with it yourself,” he told Yahoo Sports. “He is still such a young, talented boy who came to the club for a lot of money but he didn’t pay that money, he’s part of the bigger picture of trying to be a success here.”
Van Dijk’s own adaptation was swift—within four months, he played in a Champions League final. Wirtz, by contrast, has endured a more turbulent introduction. After 18 games and four months, he still awaits his first goal, and even his apparent equaliser against Sunderland was credited as an own goal. The pressure of being Liverpool’s £116m man lingers, but Van Dijk remains supportive: “There’s a very good reason why a club like us bought him: he’s an outstanding, world-class player in my eyes who can only become even better but it will take a bit of time. He has to stay level-headed: don’t get too high, don’t get too low.”
Team Dynamics: Accountability and Adaptation
The Liverpool dressing room is defined by merit, not reputation. Van Dijk, speaking to France 24, highlighted this after Mohamed Salah was benched for consecutive matches—a first in his Anfield career. “That’s always been the case,” Van Dijk said. “It’s not like you have unlimited [credit]; everyone has to perform.” The message is clear: no player, regardless of past glories, is immune from scrutiny. Salah, once the talisman, now finds himself under the same microscope, goalless in five matches and struggling to recapture his prolific form.
Van Dijk’s pragmatic approach to both leadership and personal form is evident. He urges teammates—and himself—to avoid becoming consumed by statistics. “Don’t get dragged into the outside world of when it’s very good or very bad and don’t get dragged into the numbers game,” he advised. “Nowadays there are a lot of eyes on if you score goals or have an assist or keep clean sheets but it is also about what you see and the contribution you have for the team, that’s not just shown in the numbers but in what you see and that should sometimes be the focus.”
This philosophy resonates beyond individual performance. Wirtz’s struggles, Salah’s dip, and Van Dijk’s own challenges are symptoms of a team in transition, searching for consistency and identity. The captain’s call for self-reliance and collective effort is both a reflection of his personal journey and a roadmap for Liverpool’s recovery.
Looking Ahead: Can Van Dijk Reignite Liverpool?
The question now is whether Van Dijk, at 34, can recapture his best form and lead Liverpool back to winning ways. His belief in Wirtz’s potential and Salah’s ability to rebound speaks to a deeper optimism. But as the club sits eighth in the Premier League, the road ahead is steep. Liverpool’s “worst run in over seven decades” is more than a statistic—it’s a test of character and resilience.
Van Dijk’s story is still being written. The defender who redefined Liverpool’s standards is now tasked with guiding them through adversity. The scrutiny is intense, the expectations immense. Yet, as he reminds both himself and his teammates, “We all know how quickly things can change.”
Assessment: Virgil van Dijk’s experience, leadership, and candid approach to adversity mark him as a pivotal figure in Liverpool’s current struggle. His willingness to confront criticism, support younger teammates like Wirtz, and insist on accountability sets a tone of resilience and adaptation. While his own form has dipped, the facts suggest that Van Dijk’s legacy will be shaped not just by past triumphs but by how he navigates this challenging period—and whether he can help Liverpool emerge stronger from the storm.