During Liverpool's recent pre‑season friendly against Como, a seemingly minor incident slipped past most of the Anfield crowd. The match, which ended in a 2-0 victory for Andoni Iraola's side thanks to a debut performance by Jeremy Jacquet, featured a brief but telling disagreement in the first half between midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and veteran centre‑back Virgil van Dijk. Szoboszlai pressed high, only to see the ball threaded into the space behind him, and he was visibly frustrated when van Dijk failed to step forward and close the gap. This moment, though fleeting, raised a question that has already begun to surface in the early weeks of the Premier League season: will the 35‑year‑old Dutch defender be able to keep pace with Iraola’s high‑pressing philosophy?
The issue became more apparent in Liverpool’s opening league fixture against Newcastle United. While Anthony Elanga’s 61‑metre sprint to score the winner captured most headlines, a closer look at the build‑up revealed that William Osula was able to release the ball to him with virtually no defensive pressure.
Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher highlighted that van Dijk’s reluctance to push higher up the pitch left a critical void, remarking, "Virgil van Dijk should be higher initially and if he is higher he could then make the challenge there." Carragher went on to note that van Dijk is now a 35‑year‑old approaching the twilight of his career, even though he remains one of the finest players ever to occupy his position. Carragher drew a parallel with former England captain John Terry, recalling how Terry under André Villas‑Boas often hesitated to venture into advanced defensive zones. "You have to play to the strengths of a player of his age and experience," Carragher said, emphasizing that Liverpool must adapt to the physical realities of an ageing centre‑back.
He added that van Dijk not only needs protection from the midfield but also requires support himself, a situation that could become more pronounced under Iraola’s demanding system. Iraola, who earned a reputation for building an exciting, aggressive Bournemouth side over three seasons, now faces the challenge of implementing a similar high‑press at Liverpool.
His approach demands that defenders stay compact while also covering the space left behind when the team pushes forward. Bournemouth, for instance, recorded the highest direct speed against any Premier League side last season, meaning opponents could transition quickly through the middle. At Liverpool, this dynamic could expose van Dijk’s waning pace. While Milos Kerkez struggled to keep up with Elanga, the scenario underscores that the traditional strengths of van Dijk—his aerial dominance, composure on the ball, and ability to read the game—may not fully compensate for a lack of speed when the back line is forced to retreat quickly after a press.
Statistically, van Dijk’s top speed has been on a downward trajectory. The fastest sprint recorded in his Premier League career came during his debut season with Southampton, after his move from Celtic.
His peak speed in a Liverpool shirt was logged during the club’s title‑winning campaign under Jürgen Klopp, but over the past three seasons his velocity has steadily declined. Consequently, he now relies more heavily on physical strength and intelligent positioning, attributes that can be compromised when he is required to cover larger zones left open by an aggressive press. The brief tension between Szoboszlai and van Dijk on that pre‑season day quickly dissipated. After van Dijk rescued a point at Newcastle with a crucial penalty, he praised his teammate’s leadership, saying, "He is here to take over." Yet the underlying concern remains: can van Dijk sustain the level of intensity demanded by Iraola’s tactics throughout a grueling Premier League campaign?
Liverpool’s midfield, already under scrutiny, may further complicate matters for the Dutch defender. The arrival of new signings and the evolving role of Mohamed Salah—who saw his status shift dramatically early in the season—suggest that the team’s shape is in flux. If the midfield fails to provide adequate cover, van Dijk could find himself exposed to counter‑attacks and quick transitions, situations that expose any decline in speed or agility.
In practical terms, Liverpool might need to adjust their defensive structure. This could involve deploying a double pivot in midfield to shield the back line, using a more disciplined defensive midfielder to drop deeper when the press is initiated, or even rotating van Dijk with a younger, faster centre‑back in specific high‑press scenarios. Such tactical tweaks would allow Iraola to maintain his preferred intensity without overburdening a veteran whose primary assets are now positioning and experience rather than raw athleticism. Ultimately, the question is not whether van Dijk can still perform at a high level—he unquestionably can—but whether his style can be seamlessly integrated into a system that demands constant forward movement from every outfield player.
As the season progresses, observers will be watching closely to see if Liverpool can strike the right balance between Iraola’s aggressive philosophy and the realistic capabilities of a world‑class yet ageing defender. The answer will likely shape Liverpool’s defensive resilience and overall success in the months ahead.