During Liverpool's final pre‑season friendly, a seemingly minor incident slipped past the Anfield crowd but may hint at a bigger issue for Andoni Iraola's new regime. The match against Como ended 2-0, with Jeremy Jacquet making an impressive debut, yet the half‑time moments between Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk have sparked a conversation about the Dutch defender's suitability for a high‑pressing system.
Szoboszlai, eager to press, found himself frustrated when a simple pass from Como slipped into the space behind the back line, only to be left unchallenged because Van Derry, who was supposed to close the gap, stayed back. That brief lapse of coordination, observed by a few pundits, resurfaced after Liverpool’s opening Premier League fixture against Newcastle, where a similar lack of forward pressure contributed to a goal. In the Newcastle game, Anthony Elanga’s blistering 61‑metre run for the opening goal attracted most of the headlines, but a deeper analysis by former Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports highlighted a more subtle cause: William Osula was able to feed Elanga without any defender, including Van Dijk, pressing high enough to cut off the passing lane.
Carragher remarked, "Virgil van Dijk should be higher initially and if he is higher he could then make the challenge there," before noting the inevitable reality that the 35‑year‑old is entering the twilight of his career. He likened Van Dijk’s reluctance to step forward to that of John Terry under André Villas‑Boas, a player who, despite his pedigree, preferred to stay in a comfortable defensive zone rather than chase the ball. Carragher went on to stress that Liverpool’s midfield protection is a two‑way street: "It is not just that Liverpool need protection in midfield and need more players there, he needs protection. This is probably the first season where he cannot help anyone else, he needs help himself." The question, then, is whether Iraola’s tactical blueprint—built on relentless pressing and quick transitions—will provide the cover that a slightly slower Van Dijk now requires.
Iraola earned a reputation at Bournemouth for constructing one of the most exhilarating, attack‑oriented sides in the Premier League. His three‑year spell there was defined by an aggressive, high‑line approach that forced his defenders to operate in a narrow space, constantly tracking back to cover the space left behind the press.
Bournemouth, in fact, recorded the highest direct speed‑against metric last season, meaning opponents advanced the ball more quickly against them than any other side. This statistic underscores the risk inherent in a system that leaves a lot of room behind the defensive line. At Liverpool, the same principle could expose Van Dijk’s diminishing pace.
While Milos Kerkez’s inability to keep up with Elanga in the Newcastle match was a clear illustration of the speed gap, it also highlighted that the issue is not merely about raw sprinting ability. Van Dijk still possesses the classic attributes of a world‑class centre‑back: aerial dominance, composure under pressure, and a passing range that can unlock attacks from deep. However, when the ball is lost around the halfway line—a zone where many modern defenders now need to press aggressively—his age‑related decline in top speed becomes a liability. Statistical evidence supports this narrative.
Van Dijk’s fastest recorded sprint came during his debut Premier League season with Southampton, shortly after his move from Celtic. His peak velocity in a Liverpool shirt was logged during the 2019‑20 title‑winning campaign under Jurgen Klopp, a period when he was still in his late twenties. In the three seasons preceding the current campaign, his top‑speed readings have steadily dropped, indicating that he can no longer rely on sheer pace to recover lost ground.
Consequently, Van Dijk now leans heavily on his physical strength and astute positional sense. While these qualities remain elite, they are increasingly tested when the spaces he must police expand due to a forward‑pressing midfield. If the midfield unit, under Iraola, continues to push high without the centre‑back advancing in tandem, Liverpool could be vulnerable to quick counter‑attacks, especially against teams that excel at playing through the press.
The brief tension between Szoboszlai and Van Dijk after the Como friendly seemed to evaporate quickly. The Dutchman later praised his teammate’s leadership following a penalty that secured a point at Newcastle, even stating, "He is here to take over." Yet the underlying issue remains: how long can Van Dijk maintain the physical demands of a system that expects the back line to act as the first line of press? This dilemma is amplified by the rapid changes in Liverpool’s midfield dynamics. Mohamed Salah’s role has already shifted dramatically this season, and the midfield’s ability to protect the defence is now under scrutiny.
If the midfield cannot shield Van Dijk effectively, the veteran’s reduced mobility may become a recurring problem for Iraola’s side. In summary, while Van Dijk remains one of the most technically gifted defenders of his generation, his age and the natural decline in speed pose a genuine challenge for a high‑pressing philosophy. Iraola will need to adapt his tactics—perhaps by employing a deeper defensive line, adding a more mobile partner alongside Van Dijk, or adjusting the press to allow the centre‑back more time on the ball.
The upcoming weeks will reveal whether Liverpool can reconcile the veteran’s strengths with the modern demands of Iraola’s aggressive blueprint, or if the ageing Dutchman will indeed become a tactical weak point in the team’s evolution.