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The former Reds forward says “the art of defending was dead” when Jurgen Klopp’s team suffered a humiliating 7-2 loss at Aston Villa
Virgil van Dijk lacks the leadership skills of Liverpool greats Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson, says Stan Collymore, with a surprising 7-2 loss to the Reds at Aston Villa proving that “the art of defending was dead.”
Reigning Premier League champions Jurgen Klopp received a rude awakening in their most recent outing.
Questions were already being asked about his decision to play a high line at the back before heading to the West Midlands, but Villa ruthlessly exposed the cracks in his armor.
Many are writing a humility change as an abnormal result, and Liverpool’s success in recent years shows that their methods can offer great rewards.
Collymore, however, believes that defense issues need to be addressed, with talismanic figures like Dutch midfielder Van Dijk needing to accept more responsibility while inspiring others with their actions.
The former Liverpool striker said Mirror Reflecting on a remarkable game at Villa Park: “If we ever needed proof that the art of defending was dead, then Liverpool and Manchester United provided it on Sunday.
“Liverpool, in particular, given their status as current champion of the Premier League, Europe and the world.
“And what worried me most about his performance was the fact that Aston Villa didn’t even have to break his will to score seven goals, they just turned around and waved at Ollie Watkins and company.
“I’m not saying that Van Dijk is anything but a world-class footballer, because we all know that he is. But what bothered me was how little responsibility he or anyone else in the Liverpool and United jerseys wanted to take on.
“Hansen and Lawrenson or [Gary] Pallister and [Steve] Bruce would have soon realized that one team was getting ahead and took responsibility, setting aside for five or six minutes to force opponents to try to find a different path.
“These days, though, nothing seems to change, it’s like the players and coaches are waiting until halftime for someone else to sort things out, or the end of a game for an investigation.
“Even managers seem to want to keep doing the same thing even when it’s not working because, ‘This is how we play.’
“Well I’m sorry but that shouldn’t be the case and I wish someone could tell me what has changed since 1996, when Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle capitulated in the title race by continuing to be enthusiastic and everyone called him naive.
“If I, Alan Shearer, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright or any of the other great forwards who were in my time would have been playing Liverpool on Sunday, we would have left with three match balls. that nothing changed. “
Liverpool have the international hiatus to fix any alleged flaws in their plans, with a return to action set to take place on a derby date with high-flying Everton at Goodison Park on October 17.
