Babbel explains why Van Dijk struggles weren’t his fault
Babbel explains why Van Dijk struggles weren’t his fault It was a moment that reminded everyone exactly why Virgil van Dijk still matters to Liverpool, but not everyone has been convinced across the full season. DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY The captain’s dramatic late winner against Everton has reignited the conversation around his future, and now former Red Markus Babbel has weighed in with a strong view.
Babbel backs Van Dijk despite difficult season Speaking exclusively to Empire of the Kop on behalf of Champions League betting site BetWright , Babbel made it clear that he still sees the Dutchman as central to what we’re building, even if performances haven’t always been at their peak this year. “I really hope that he will stay because he’s one of the players – he’s a leader. “Normally he brings his performance all the time, but if you have players around you who are always making mistakes and you’re always in between, then you’re not looking good.
” The former defender pointed to the wider issues in the side rather than placing blame solely on the 34-year-old, suggesting that inconsistency around him has played a major role. “He has not had the best season, and not the best confidence either, but he’s still, for me, absolutely the tower at the back. ” That assessment feels fair when you consider how often Van Dijk has been asked to cover for mistakes elsewhere, particularly in a season where defensive stability hasn’t always been there.
Liverpool still rely on Van Dijk Babbel didn’t stop there, highlighting just how chaotic things have looked at times and why that inevitably impacts even the best defenders. “It was so easy to score goals against Liverpool – it was unbelievable – but he was, for me, the only one who had the feeling, ‘okay, he knows what to do’. “The players around him were really putting in a bad performance, and so he ends up struggling as well.
” That context is important, because while the Netherlands international hasn’t always hit his usual levels, his importance hasn’t really changed. Jamie Carragher praised both Van Dijk and Mo Salah for stepping up against Everton, reinforcing just how much we still lean on our experienced leaders. Our captain’s own comments about fan protests show how much he understands the club and the supporters too.