During Liverpool's final pre‑season friendly, a seemingly minor incident slipped past most of the Anfield crowd. The Basque manager Andoni Iraola's side secured a 2-0 victory over Como, with newcomer Jeremy Jacquet making a strong debut.
Yet, in the first half a subtle disagreement unfolded between midfield dynamo Dominik Szoboszlai and the Dutch defensive stalwart Virgil van Dibb. Szoboszlai pressed high, only to see the ball slipped past him into the space behind the centre‑back. Frustrated, the Hungarian winger gestured angrily, questioning why van Dibb had not moved forward to close the gap.
Fast forward to the opening weeks of the Premier League, and a similar scenario emerged within five minutes of Liverpool's clash with Newcastle United. The early phases of that match highlighted a potential tactical mismatch: Iraola favours a high‑pressing, aggressive style, while van Dijk, now 35, appears reluctant to abandon his traditional defensive line. This reluctance may become a recurring problem if the manager insists on a press that demands the captain to sprint into advanced positions.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher noted that van Dijk's hesitation to push up contributed to Newcastle's opening goal. While Anthony Elanga's 61‑metre run earned most of the headlines, the underlying issue was William Osula's ability to feed the ball to Elanga without any Liverpool defender closing down the space.
Carragher argued, "If Van Dijk had been higher initially, he could have made the challenge and possibly prevented the goal." He added a caveat, "We are talking about a 35‑year‑old defender, nearing the twilight of his career, albeit one of the finest ever in his role." Carragher drew a parallel with former England captain John Terry, recalling Terry's reluctance to step into high‑press zones under Andre Villas‑Boas at Chelsea. "You have to adapt the system to the player's strengths," he said, implying that Liverpool might need to protect van Dijk rather than force him into uncomfortable positions. The conversation about protection extended beyond tactical nuance.
Carragher suggested that Liverpool's midfield, which has struggled to shield the back line, also leaves van Dijk exposed. "This could be the first season where he cannot help anyone else; he needs help himself," Carragher warned. The question now is whether Iraola's philosophy can accommodate a defender who may need additional cover.
Iraola's reputation for building exciting, high‑intensity teams was cemented during his three‑year spell at Bournemouth, where his side often ranked among the Premier League's most dynamic. However, that style places particular physical demands on defenders. Bournemouth recorded the league's highest "direct speed against" metric last season, meaning opponents moved the ball up the pitch more quickly than against any other side. Such a statistic underscores the vulnerability of a high line: when the press is applied, space opens up behind the defenders, and a slower centre‑back can be exposed.
At Liverpool, similar risks have already manifested. In the Newcastle game, Milos Kerkez failed to catch up with Elanga, illustrating how a rapid transition can exploit any hesitation from the defensive line. Van Dijk remains an imposing presence in the box and possesses a commendable passing range, but his age inevitably affects certain physical attributes, especially when required to cover large distances at high speed. Statistical evidence supports the notion that van Dijk's pace has waned.
The fastest top‑speed he ever recorded in the Premier League came during his debut season with Southampton, shortly after leaving Celtic. His peak speed in a Liverpool shirt was logged during the title‑winning 2019‑20 campaign under Jurgen Klopp.
Over the past three seasons, his recorded top speed has shown a gradual decline, indicating that sheer sprinting ability is no longer his primary weapon. Consequently, van Dijk now relies more heavily on his strength, aerial ability, and astute positioning. Yet, when the opposition presses high and the defensive line is forced to sit deeper, the spaces he must manage become larger, demanding more movement and quicker recovery runs.
If Iraola's system continues to press aggressively without van Dijk advancing, the mismatch could widen, leaving Liverpool vulnerable to quick counters. The brief tension between van Dijk and Szoboszlai seemed to dissolve quickly. After van Dijk scored a penalty to secure a point at Newcastle, he praised his teammate's leadership, stating, "He is here to take over." The Dutchman's commendation suggested that any friction was fleeting, but the underlying tactical question remains.
Looking ahead, the season promises further scrutiny of van Dijk's role. Mohamed Salah's unexpected departure earlier in the campaign reminded fans how quickly circumstances can shift at Anfield. As Liverpool's midfield continues to evolve—potentially becoming a liability for the ageing defender—the balance between Iraola's high‑press ambitions and van Dijk's physical realities will be a storyline to monitor closely. Adjustments may be required, whether that means deploying a deeper defensive block, assigning a midfield shield, or rotating the captaincy to preserve his effectiveness as the season progresses.