Virgil van Dijk has had a slightly disappointing season based on his impossibly high standards at Liverpool.
The Dutchman has been ever-present in the Premier League and Champions League, and has suffered through a handful of dismal performances as a result.
But having led Liverpool to back-to-back clean sheets last week, even grabbing the winning goal against Sunderland – Van Dijk has played a big part in steadying the ship.
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Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates in front of the Kop after scoring in Liverpool's FA Cup fourth round match against Brighton at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Charlotte Wilson/Offside).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Charlotte Wilson/Offside
If the Reds are to lift silverware this season, their captain will be a big reason for it, no question about it.
According to Micah Richards, though, Van Dijk can also have a negative effect on Liverpool, with the team’s standard largely dictated by how he performs on any given day.
Virgil van Dijk sets the tone for Liverpool matches
After months of up and down form, Liverpool are finally starting to look like a cohesive team once again.
There are numerous reasons for that, including the summer signings finally starting to settle and have their brilliance come to the fore, but speaking on The Rest Is Football, Richards claimed that Van Dijk’s improvement is the biggest factor.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate after Liverpool goal
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
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“I think when Van Dijk plays well the team play really well,” the former Man City defender said. “Konate after losing his dad has put in some really good performances as well.
“I just think when Van Dijk plays well at the back the whole of Liverpool play [well]. If he has an off game, because everyone relies on him so much, it ruins the whole team, it really does because they’re so used to him being perfect in every single game.
“If you look at him the last couple of games he’s been brilliant, absolutely outstanding alongside Konate.”
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Virgil van Dijk celebrates Alexis Mac Allister scoring for Liverpool against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Chris Brunskill/Fantasista).
Photo credit: Getty Images/Chris Brunskill/Fantasista
Van Dijk shaking off suggestions of decline
It is true that Van Dijk has not quite been setting his usual standards this season, and it is easy to see how this can have a knock-on effect to his teammates.
Liverpool have been so reliant on their No. 4 – and he is such an ever-present in the team – that any wobble is likely to be felt tenfold.
Van Dijk’s display against Bournemouth in January was especially bad, and after the highs of last season there have been some murmurings that the 34-year-old may be getting past his best.
However, any talk of a decline is extremely premature. Even at his worst Van Dijk is better than most centre-backs out there, and when he steps that up a level, as he has recently, he is arguably still the best defender in world football. If he can maintain his current level until the end of the season it will help Liverpool massively.
When the going gets tough Van Dijk does not always get going, but he continues to be perhaps the focal point of the whole club.
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