Van Dijk under fire after mistake that let Villarreal score at Anfield

On a cloudy evening at Anfield Road, Virgil van Dijk made an unnecessary mistake in the Champions League‑match between Liverpool and Villarreal, allowing Georges Mikautadze to score the opening goal of 0‑1 and the Dutch defender immediately came under fire.

Criticism of Van Dijk in England

Van Dijk was already under fire in the Netherlands last summer, and now the skepticism is growing in England as well. After the mistake that led to the 0‑1, there is serious doubt whether he can still perform at the highest level. ‘Can this still happen’, people wonder.

On CBS, former player Troy Deeney immediately indicated that Van Dijk appears ‘mentally tired’. He emphasized that the defender still possesses qualities, but that the mistake ‘is not Van Dijk’ and that he seemed frustrated. Deeney added that Van Dijk stepped into the second goal conceded without reason.

An analyst argued that every footballer gets a moment like this, and referred to John Terry at Chelsea. Terry rarely faced danger because he had players like Cahill and Azpilicueta beside him, whereas Van Dijk now shows less speed and less coaching influence. The analyst concluded that Liverpool therefore concedes goals more easily.

The BBC judged that Van Dijk had a ‘shaky start’ with an ‘unusual mistake’ that caused Villarreal’s opening scorer. After halftime he played better, but he will be dissatisfied about the three goals Liverpool conceded. It confirmed that the Red Lions quickly fell behind and Van Dijk was responsible for that.

Transfer and future rumours

In England it is whispered that Van Dijk may be ‘ready’ at The Reds, while coach Andoni Iraola still has no clear alternative. A winter transfer could change the situation, but Van Dijk is not seen as a bench player. Speculation revolves around a move to the Eredivisie, with Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV as possible destinations.

In 2025 the captain of the Dutch national team refused a return to the Eredivisie, stating that he is proud of his career and does not want to finish in the home competition. He emphasized that he started here and that a comeback does not fit into his plans.

The relationship with the Dutch press has also deteriorated, partly due to a clash with Valentijn Driessen over an alleged ‘nonsense’ that Van Dijk was said to have sold. Van Dijk denied that he supports a five‑defender formation and labelled the reporting as ‘blatant nonsense’. Last summer he was also linked to Galatasaray, a club that is financially stronger than the traditional top three in the Eredivisie.