Peter Crouch, Joe Cole Faults Van Dijk For Liverpool Loss

Former Premier League stars, Peter Crouch and Joe Cole, have criticised Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk for his performance in their 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.

Philip Billing scored the only goal of the match, as Liverpool failed to convert their chances, with Mohamed Salah missing a penalty during the game.

Crouch and Cole were unimpressed with Van Dijk’s effort during the match, saying that he gave up and switched off at key moments, which led to Bournemouth’s victory.

Speaking to BT Sport, Crouch said, “Van Dijk seems to give up, Trent Alexander-Arnold switches off and it is too, too easy for Bournemouth.”

Cole added, “It is a simple ball over the top. He gets back in, but now he needs to switch on, he should be in business. When have we ever seen Virgil van Dijk just stroll past someone in that situation? He just switches off. Look at that reaction, you don’t want that from your captain.”

The defeat is a significant setback for Liverpool in their bid for a 4th place finish.

Van Dijk’s performance, in particular, has raised questions about his form and whether he can continue to be a leader for Liverpool’s defence. However, Liverpool will have a chance to bounce back in their next game, a crucial Champions League clash against Real Madrid on Wednesday.