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Virgil van Dijk plays new role for the first time in nine years for the Netherlands in their latest victory

Photo by Roy Lazet/Soccrates/Getty Images

Sunday was a big night for Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk as he won his 100th cap for the Netherlands.

Van Dijk has been as crucial to his country as ever under new boss Xavi, and completed his fourth 90 minutes in just 11 days as they beat Serbia 2-1 in Amsterdam.

Though that should concern Liverpool supporters, it was nice to see the 35-year-old get the adulation he deserves for hitting a milestone few manage at international level. Interestingly, Van Dijk reached his century playing at right centre-back for the first time in almost a decade.

Van Dijk finally plays on the right

In all 380 of his appearances as a Liverpool player so far, Van Dijk has played on the right side of a centre-back pairing. Whether it has been with Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, Jeremy Jacquet or whoever else, the No. 4 does not give up his left-sided berth.

According to Voetbal Primeur, Van Dijk has almost always done the same for the Netherlands. But, as they noted in their player ratings for Sunday’s win, the Liverpool skipper played on the right side of a pairing with Micky van de Ven at left centre-back.

The Dutch paper claims that it is the first time since 2017 that Van Dijk has vacated his role on the left, and report that he looked ‘awkward’ on the ball as a result.

ESPN Netherlands pundit Hans Kraay Jr disagreed, however, claiming that the captain played well and ‘looked comfortable’ in his altered role.

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“Van Dijk supposedly doesn’t want to play on the right in center. It doesn’t bother him at all. Van Dijk looks comfortable there,” he said.

“I think Van Dijk quite likes having a fighter jet next to him. Maybe this is something for the future: Van de Ven-Van Dijk.”

How did Ryan Gravenberch play?

As usual, Van Dijk was not the only Liverpool player to feature for the Netherlands on Sunday. Ryan Gravenberch also started the 2-1 win.

Gravenberch earned some good reviews for his second half performance as the Oranje drew against Greece last week, and Xavi threw him in from the start as a result.

However, Voetbal Primeur claim that the 24-year-old could not have the same impact, handing him a 5/10. They claim that Gravenberch did not have the impact expected of him and was taken off on the hour mark.

Algemeen Dagblad disagreed, though, giving the Liverpool man a 6/10 rating and reporting that he ‘stepped up the pace,’ ‘won balls,’ and showed again why he is a key player for the national team.

The same cannot be said of Jeremie Frimpong, unfortunately, who did not play a single minute during the Netherlands’ four fixtures of this international window.

Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Kevin Schade

Wirtz

Liverpool DP

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