Former Liverpool attacker Dirk Kuyt has leapt to the defence of Reds captain Virgil van Dijk.
Having once undisputedly been seen as the best centre-back in world football, Van Dijk’s reputation has taken a bit of a battering of late.
But according to Kuyt, that’s completely unfair. Speaking to The Athletic today, the Dutchman claimed that his compatriot is still one of the very best around.
“What Virgil has done for Liverpool is amazing,” raved the 43-year-old.
“He’s had his critics, not only here but also in Holland, but for me he’s still one of the best defenders in the world.
“People forget sometimes that it’s not easy to come back from such a serious injury, especially when the team is not performing the way they did before.
“It’s been the same for the national team, but I’ve watched every Liverpool game this season and he’s done very well.”
Over the past 18 months or so, Van Dijk has become an easy target for critics. With Liverpool well below-par, the £75m man has been singled out plenty of times.
This has been obvious enough here in England, but as Kuyt points out, the criticism has been even more fierce in the Netherlands.
This is perhaps understandable in a way. Although he wasn’t great for Liverpool last season, Van Dijk’s status at the club is near untouchable.
What the 32-year-old has achieved in his five-and-a-half years at Anfield is beyond reproach. Now the captain, Virgil will go down as one of the absolute best to ever wear Liverpool red.
But with his national team, that isn’t the case at all.
Back home, Van Dijk appears to be seen as someone who fails to stand up and put a decidedly average Netherlands team on his back. As one of their very few world-class players, he’s often seen to be not quite doing enough to drag his team forwards.
We’re with Dirk, though. This is too much to place on a player who has been one of the greatest we’ve seen of this generation. Virgil has indeed been very good this season. Keep it up and even his most ardent critics will have to relent.
