Van Dijk determines the status of the team. Looking at what has happened at Liverpool in recent years, any observer would conclude that there is a direct relationship between the availability of Virgil van Dijk and the collective performance of the whole network. With the Dutchman behaving as one of the most dominant central defenders of his generation, the red squad won the 2019 Champions League and finally conquered the long-awaited Premier twelve months later. When he injured his knee and missed nearly the entire 20-21 season, the team was so absent that he had trouble even qualifying in the top four. (He did it in extremis after a great final comeback and finished the league 17 points behind Manchester City).
In Europe, it was clearly surpassed by Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. This season, with the former Southampton central defender already recovered, Liverpool have not lost yet: they are second in the Premier with five wins and three draws and has a plenary session in the two days of the Champions League. How can a central defender be so influential and decisive? Van Dijk allows the team to defend much higher up, because He is very capable of winning duels or correcting backwards by playing away from his goalkeeper. In this way, the lines are closer together, and the asphyxiating pressure carried out by the attackers is accompanied by the members of the medullary.
The three upstairs arrive full. The good state of the attackers was confirmed in the win in the Watford field (0-5), a game in which the three members of the starting forward scored. Firmino achieved a hat-trick that will allow him to lift his spirits (He was the one with the worst numbers and has even seen how Diogo Jota has snatched his place in the eleven in some games) and Salah and Mané also saw goal. The Egyptian’s goal, after a superlative double maneuver to dribble past his markers, was the best of the day in England. Salah is, in fact, the most decisive player in the Premier League so far in the championship: he has seven goals and four assists.
Brazilians fly direct. Alisson and Fabinho missed the Premier match due to late commitments by their national team and They have traveled directly to Madrid to be available for the Champions League. They will regain their place in the eleven to the detriment of Kelleher and Milner. Thiago and Harvey Elliott are the main casualties for Klopp, who also has the Jones doubt.
Konaté, the only signing. The summer market was discreet in Liverpool: only Konaté, a good French central defender, arrived from RB Leipzig for which they paid 40 million. So far he has only played one Premier match and one League Cup match. Klopp is measuring his adaptation to English football and for now he prefers to bet on Matip as Van Dijk’s partner.
More presence of Tsimikas. Although Robertson’s starting status is indisputable, this season Tsimikas is having much more presence: He has already played 300 minutes in the Premier for the five he played last season. He has shown to possess a remarkable offensive projection and a good foot to put measured centers, allowing Klopp to rotate to his starting left back and knowing that he already has a guaranteed substitute there.
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