Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has slammed Virgil van Dijk for his function in Chelsea‘s equalizer at Stamford Bridge. The 2 sides performed out an entertaining 2-2 draw with all 4 targets coming within the first half, because the Blues staged a formidable fightback to salvage a well-deserved level.
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool nicely heading in the right direction for a well-known away victory, however Mateo Kovacic halved the deficit with a surprising purpose in the direction of the top of the primary half. Christian Pulisic accomplished the comeback with a well-taken purpose from shut vary, because the Liverpool defender did not get near the American.
Talking on Sky Sports activities (quotes by way of The Mirror), Souness highlighted Van Dijk’s function within the lead-up to Chelsea’s equalizer, as he questioned the Dutchman’s obvious lack of effort.
“Why has Van Dijk not come throughout there? He’s simply working in a straight line again to his purpose. Come over, come over, come over – he’s not even sprinting.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher additionally highlighted the Reds’ defensive frailties and identified that they’ve ‘bought an obsession’ with taking part in a high-line and catching groups offside.
“They’ve bought an obsession, Liverpool’s centre-backs, you see this rather a lot the place they all the time keep in step with one another. They by no means cowl one another – there’s an obsession with taking part in offside. We seen that proper all through the sport, the area between the 2 centre-backs is simply too huge.
“Initially, his beginning place, Van Dijk, as a result of he’s not intense sufficient to recover from, he doesn’t need to cowl his different centre-back. He stays in the identical line, and that’s why he’s too far to get throughout.”
Liverpool and Chelsea face uphill battle to dethrone Manchester Metropolis on the Premier League summit
Manchester Metropolis are ten factors away from second-placed Chelsea on the prime of the desk, though Liverpool can leapfrog the Blues and scale back the hole to eight in the event that they win their sport in hand.
Pep Guardiola’s aspect are in pole place to win their fourth Premier League title in 5 years and have appeared unstoppable in latest weeks, having received 11 league video games on the bounce.
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Manchester Metropolis and Chelsea will lock horns on the fifteenth of January in what might be one other necessary sport within the title race. Will the Cityzens proceed their successful streak with one other well-known consequence on the Etihad Stadium? Solely time will inform.