Virgil van Dijk’s defending for Rangers’ opening goal in their Champions League clash with Liverpool on Wednesday has been slammed by supporters.
Rangers went in front in the 17th minute when Fabio Carvalho was dispossessed and Ryan Jack played in Scott Arfield who fired into the bottom corner.
Van Dijk was slow to react to the danger, and did not put a challenge in on Jack, leading to criticism online from some fans.
‘Virgil van Dijk is finished,’ one fan claimed on Twitter.
‘Van Dijk backing off there instead of attacking the ball. Smh,’ another supporter added.
‘Impossible for us to keep a clean sheet these days. Mistake between Konate and Van Dijk there. Teams don’t even have to try hard to find gaps, we just give them out,’ one fan wrote.
The Dutch defender has been widely recognised as one of the best centre-backs in the world in recent years after playing a major role in Liverpool winning the Champions League and Premier League.
However, with Liverpool struggling in the early weeks of the season and van Dijk failing to hit the heights of previous years, one supporter believes he should no longer be regarded as the best player in his position.
‘When are people gonna stop calling van Dijk the best defender in the world lmao?’ they posted on Twitter.
Since joining Liverpool in January 2018 for £75m from Southampton, van Dijk has been an ever-present in the side’s back line when fit.
Yet one supporter has called for him to be dropped after his dip in form in recent weeks.
‘Notice how Van Dijk’s playing? Matip and Konate should start at least they tackle people,’ they wrote.
