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It was the news that no Liverpool wanted to read. Virgil van Dijk, the club’s inspiring captain, was now staring down the barrel of a serious knee injury and a significant period of time on the sidelines.
The outpouring of Liverpool fans is proof of how important the Dutch defender is to Liverpool’s cause, and although the transfer window was closed, fans set their sights on January and the possibility of reinforcements.
And how Sam McGuire has explained in his new Marginal Plains newsletter, The Duje Ćaleta-Car from Marseille could be the perfect replacement.
McGuire points out several key components that make Ćaleta-Car well suited to the role. He rarely goes to the ground, he does well in one-on-one situations, a byproduct of Marseille’s eagerness to engage his wingers in attack, and he can cover large areas as a defender.
While van Dijk is a fantastic defender, he is also extremely impressive on the ball. That makes him a vital component in Liverpool’s attack.
“We tried to put them under as much pressure as we could, but van Dijk plays 60 yards for Mohamed Salah and they are out,” admitted Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the Reds’ victory at the Emirates last month.
Since Ćaleta-Car spent time with the RB Salzburg, his transition to Jürgen Klopp’s system will also be easier, and for that reason it is difficult to look beyond the Croatian international as the perfect replacement option, should the Reds look for. move into the January transfer window.
The fact that we can rate what makes van Dijk so important to this Liverpool team means that it is possible to assess whether any of the current team members could take on that role. The midweek meeting with Ajax saw Fabinho fall to center-back and the Brazilian did it admirably.
Some Liverpool fans may argue that Fabinho may be the long-term successor or even the short-term solution while van Dijk recovers, but the more exposure he has to the position, the better it will be in theory.
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His point guard as a defensive midfielder, and as a winger early in his career, makes him well suited for transition. He has the ball game skills necessary to instigate attacks, while his reading of the game as a defensive midfielder could also serve him well in a deeper role with a better view of the field.
The idea of transitioning from a defensive midfielder to the heart of defense is nothing new. Klopp’s rival, Pep Guardiola, has previously done so with Fernandinho at Manchester City and Javier Mascherano at Barcelona.
You will have a hard time finding a Liverpool fan who hasn’t been devastated by the news of van Dijk’s injury. The 29-year-old’s arrival at Anfield heralded a new dawn and a change from a team with potential to European champions and the Premier League.
His absence will be felt regardless of how Liverpool respond, but at least the foundations of a solution are beginning to emerge.
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