During Liverpool's recent pre‑season friendly against Como, a seemingly minor incident went largely unnoticed by the Anfield crowd, yet it may foreshadow a deeper tactical dilemma for the new manager, Andoni Iraola. The match, which ended in a comfortable 2-0 victory thanks to a debut performance from Jeremy Jacquet, featured a brief but telling spat between midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and captain Virgil van Dijk. Szoboszlai, pressing high as instructed, found himself frustrated when a simple pass from Como slipped into the space behind the Dutch defender. Van Dijk, instead of stepping forward to close the gap, remained deeper, leaving Szoboszlai visibly angry.
Fast‑forward to the opening weeks of the Premier League season, and a similar pattern emerged in Liverpool's early clash with Newcastle United. Within the first five minutes, Newcastle's Anthony Elanga embarked on a blistering 61‑metre run that culminated in a goal. While the highlight reel celebrated Elanga's pace, former Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher pointed out on Sky Sports that the goal was also a product of Liverpool's failure to press higher, particularly the lack of any defender to challenge Elanga's progression. "Van Dijk should have been higher initially and, if he had been, he could have made the challenge," Carragher observed, adding that the 35‑year‑old centre‑back is approaching the twilight of his career despite being one of the finest defenders of his generation.
Carragher drew a parallel with John Terry, noting that veteran defenders often become reluctant to engage in the high‑press that modern managers demand. "Do you remember Terry under Andre Villas‑Boas? He didn’t want to go in there.
You have to play to his strengths," he said, underscoring the tactical conundrum facing Iraola. The Basque coach, who earned plaudits for his aggressive, high‑pressing style at Bournemouth, now faces the challenge of implementing a similar philosophy at Liverpool, a club whose backline has traditionally been built around a more measured approach. The crux of the issue lies in the physical demands of pressing from the back.
Van Dijk’s strengths—his aerial dominance, composure on the ball, and exceptional passing range—remain largely intact. However, his pace, once a formidable weapon during his early days at Southampton and later at Liverpool’s title‑winning season under Jurgen Klopp, has noticeably declined. Data from the past three seasons shows a steady reduction in his top speed, suggesting that the defender can no longer rely on sheer athleticism to recover when the team is caught out of shape. When a team presses high, the space behind the defensive line expands, requiring centre‑backs to either sprint back quickly or to position themselves further up the pitch to cut out passing lanes.
For an ageing Van Dijk, the former is increasingly unrealistic, and the latter runs the risk of exposing him to one‑v‑one situations against pacey forwards. This dilemma was evident when Milos Kerkez failed to track down a quick Elanga run, a scenario that does not play to Van Dijk’s traditional strengths of reading the game and using his physicality to dominate opponents. Iraola’s Bournemouth side was notorious for being the fastest team to be beaten directly in the Premier League last season, a statistic that reflects the inherent risk of an ultra‑aggressive press: opponents often bypass the midfield with swift, vertical passes, leaving the defence exposed.
If Liverpool adopts a similar approach without adequate midfield cover, Van Dijk could find himself repeatedly forced to chase down attackers, increasing the likelihood of errors and injuries. The question, therefore, is whether Liverpool can adapt their defensive structure to protect their veteran skipper. Carragher suggested that Van Dijk now needs protection rather than providing it, noting that this could be the first season where the Dutchman is more dependent on teammates to shield him. Tactical adjustments such as employing a defensive midfielder to sit deeper, or pairing Van Dijk with a younger, faster centre‑back who can cover the spaces behind, may be necessary.
Despite the brief tension on the pitch, Van Dijk quickly moved past the incident, later praising Szoboszlai after the latter’s penalty secured a point at Newcastle. He even highlighted Szoboszlai’s emerging leadership, stating, "He is here to take over." Yet the underlying issue remains: as Liverpool’s midfield continues to evolve—especially after Mohamed Salah’s unexpected status change—Van Dijk’s role under Iraola will be closely scrutinised.
In summary, the combination of Iraola’s high‑pressing philosophy and Van Dijk’s advancing age creates a potential friction point. While the Dutch defender still possesses the intelligence and technical ability to excel, the physical demands of a modern, pressing system may limit his effectiveness unless Liverpool adjusts its tactics to provide additional cover.
Monitoring how the manager balances aggression with defensive solidity will be crucial for Liverpool’s success this season, and it will be fascinating to see whether Van Dijk can adapt his game or if the club will need to seek supplementary solutions to safeguard its defensive backbone.