Former Arsenal and England centre-back Sol Campbell believes that Virgil van Dijk may be suffering from a recent bout of complacency, evident by the Dutchman’s recent run of under-par showings for Liverpool FC in the Premier League.
The Reds were on the receiving end of a 7-2 thumping at the hands of Dean Smith’s Aston Villa over the last weekend, the Merseyside club’s worst result across their league fixtures in 57 years, and Jurgen Klopp’s biggest loss as the manager of Liverpool FC.
Van Dijk was partly responsible for a number of Villa’s goals on a Sunday afternoon in the Midlands, with the 29-year old not being on the standards he has set for himself ever since his rise to a world-class defender in world football. His shoddy showing was called out by Campbell in the latter’s interview to the Athletic, the ex-Gunners man voicing his belief that Van Dijk’s complacency may have got the better of him of late.
“I know Van Dijk struggled in the Villa game, but he stands out these days because he’s head and shoulders above everyone else, which makes me wonder if that is hampering him at the same time.
“He’s the complete player in that position and has made it look easy, but maybe he’s not been challenged enough and then, like a cricketer being done by a slower ball, he’s come unstuck.
“If you’ve not been worrying about forwards troubling you, sometimes you drop your guard a fraction. It’s a natural human thing.
“Maybe that’s seeped in a bit at Liverpool in general. I’m sure Jurgen Klopp will recognise that and get them back on track.
The Liverpool FC star-defender will surely be hoping to prove his recent critics wrong as he aims to get back on his best for his club following the prolonged international break with the Holland national team.
