Liverpool’s season has fallen apart and the club is facing severe criticism after internal tensions and poor results, including the public fallout involving Mohamed Salah.
As the team struggles, former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has said that Virgil van Dijk shares blame for recent defensive errors. Johnson argued that Van Dijk escapes heavy criticism because of his reputation at the club, even though his form has dipped.
“Virgil van Dijk has been at fault just as much as Ibrahima Konate recently, if not more.
“Because his name is Van Dijk, he gets away with murder. I still think he’s a world class player and has been for a long time, but at the minute, he’s been nowhere near his best level and neither have the players around him.
“I think Konate has been thrown under the bus a little bit, which is understandable because he’s made a few mistakes recently. But so has everybody. The entire Liverpool back line keeps making errors – and Van Dijk is no exception.”
Johnson also suggested Liverpool should recruit a new centre-back in January. He named England and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi as his top choice and said the club should give the player a chance at the highest level.
“Liverpool need a new centre-back in January. The first player that comes to mind is Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.
“Whether he can join a club like Liverpool and kick on is a question, but I think he needs to be given that chance to prove himself at the top level, like he’s done for England.
“I think he would be a great signing for Liverpool. They definitely need to get in some players in January.”
The wider picture shows a team low on confidence and short on consistent performances. Critics point to defensive lapses, strained player-manager relations, and a run of poor results as the main causes of the crisis. Johnson’s comments add to calls for changes in personnel and fresh defensive options when the transfer window reopens.
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