Liverpool had “defended like a bar side” in a concerning first-half display, according to ROY KEANE.
Nobody was more to blame than Virgil van Dijk, who seemed to have overindulged in Bank Holiday activities this weekend.
The Dutch defender, who has been crucial to the Reds’ recent success, did not take credit for either of Arsenal’s goals.
And his callous challenge to Gabriel Jesus as he skipped by him down the touchline screamed of desperation.
Van Dijk has been dubbed a “Rolls-Royce of a Defender” in recent years.
Yet, in that awful first half-hour at Anfield, the Netherlands international looked like he was on his way to the scrap yard at the age of 31.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher stated their defense was “all over the place” at first, with Van Dijk being the biggest offender.
Keane went on to ᵴɑү of Arsenal’s second goal: “Terrible defense. Liverpool is not participating. There is no fervor. Jesus is standing in the center of the box.
“Van Dijk is keeping an eye on the ball. The ball is not under any pressure. Arsenal had it much too easy. I’m sure he can’t believe his good fortune.
“You’ve got to perform better than Robertson’s attempts to return. Liverpool’s defense is reminiscent of a pub squad. They’re scattered all over the area. They’re a shambles.” After just eight minutes, he got his legs tangled and slid the ball into the path of Gabriel Martinelli.
The Arsenal attacker was not about to pass up such a gift and gleefully pushed it past Alisson.
After around 20 minutes, Van Dijk seemed to lose his bearings as Martinelli whipped in a cross from the left.
He left Andy Robertson to face Jesus, who easily climbed over the Scot to make it 2-0.
Then followed his sɑvɑgҽ tackle on Jesus, as VVD’s rage boiled over and his team seemed to be blown out before halftime.
The center-back was unable to go to Chelsea on Tuesday due to sickness, and although Liverpool rode their luck, they came away with a clean sheet from the stalemate at Stamford Bridge.
Van Dijk was returned to the starting lineup Wednesday, demonstrating Jurgen Klopp’s trust in his £75 million рᴜгcҺɑᵴе.
It is unlikely to alter anytime soon, but the defender’s downturn has paralleled the team’s. Before this game, Klopp labeled his team’s season as “rubbish,” and his star defender’s form has been a source of worry for most of it.
To be fair, the former Celtic and Southampton player improved after that diᵴɑᵴtrouᵴ start.
He was thankful to his center-back partner Ibrahima Konate for leading him through it, the Frenchman being by far the Reds’ finest defender.
Watching Liverpool open up like this at home will be a fresh source of concern for Klopp since the Reds have otherwise looked like their old selves.
They had not allowed a Premier League goal in front of the Kopites this season until Sunday, with the previous one coming against Leicester on December 30.
It was over seven and a half hours of football, and it had enabled the Reds to win three of their four games and keep their prospects of finishing in the top four alive.
Despite a valiant comeback, their inability to win here may have put that out of reach, as they are currently 12 points behind the leaders.
In reality, they will ᵴтᴜɡɡιе to qualify for any European events next season.
And their summer transfer budget will almost definitely suffer as a result.
Klopp intended to spend most of his available funds to bolster his aging midfield. Until recently, he had not anticipated spending too much of his money on a new center-back.
Yet, replacing a Rolls-Royce is not inexpensive.
