The Dutch midfielder was at fault for Liverpool's two goals conceded against Arsenal in the 30th round of the Premier League.
Van Dijk's poor performance at Anfield has just been one of many disappointing matches this season. Perhaps, we should ask seriously, is Van Dijk just declining or is it really out of date?
After Van Dijk's forgettable match against Arsenal, Jamie Carragher spoke up to affirm that the Dutch player was better than Nemanja Vidic - the legendary centre-back of Manchester United.
In addition, Carragher also believes that the 31-year-old player has simply had a "bad season" in his career, "like all the players", including Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.
Surely, there is no doubt about Van Dijk's impact after moving to Liverpool from Southampton for £75 million in the 2017-2019 season.
The Dutchman is the key to helping The Kop continuously reap success in the Premier League and Champions League.
Van Dijk is second only to Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d'Or and has been named in the PFA Team of the Year in three of the last four seasons.
Therefore, Van Dijk's decline in form this season is unacceptable to many people. But it is important to consider Liverpool's entire season when assessing the contribution of Van Dijk personally.
Liverpool's form declines
There were many problems on the pitch for Jurgen Klopp and most of them were due to the decline in intensity.
After a continuous plowing through the density of the previous season along with the aging pillars, Liverpool's brand pressing style is no longer maintained.
As a result, a Premier League leader in most of last season's pressing indicators has fallen significantly in the present.
These problems stem from the attack and midfield, where Liverpool no longer put pressure on their opponents. Therefore, the consequences occurred for the defense, specifically Van Dijk.
Liverpool's opponents are no longer under constant pressure and are feeling more comfortable. There are gaps to exploit, especially in midfield. Those gaps have exposed Van Dijk and his teammates in defense.
Van Dijk has thrived as Liverpool's defence has improved. But now, the space is tight and the Dutch centre-back has struggled to adapt.
Fatigue affects Van Dijk
Liverpool's problems in midfield and attack have caused Van Dijk difficulties. But it cannot be denied that part of the problem lies in the Dutch midfielder.
Even teams like Bournemouth, Brentford and Nottingham could make it difficult for Van Dijk. And the most basic mistake is a lack of concentration, constantly repeating.
The fatigue has seriously affected Van Dijk, the main cause of which is overload. Since the start of last season, only 6 players in major European competitions have played more matches than Van Dijk.
More notably, Van Dijk played for 7,545 minutes and made 84 appearances after a serious knee injury that kept him out for most of the 2020-2021 season.
In other words, Van Dijk has no time to "breathe". Instead, he played his first 16 consecutive Premier League games of the following season and made 51 appearances in all competitions.
Not only at Liverpool but also in the Netherlands, Van Dijk is an irreplaceable factor. The continued plowing ofai at the 2022 World Cup also made the 31-year-old central defender tired and led to the current decline in performance.
Ferdinand and Terry, two of the best centre-backs in Premier League history, still play a key role at the age of 34. However, both have played fewer games than Van Dijk at their current age.
The performance against Arsenal showed that Van Dijk needs more rest. However, Liverpool's current situation does not allow it, as they have to fight for a ticket to the European Cup.
In short, it is too early to say that Van Dijk is out of date or unlikely to regain his form. The problem is that the Dutch midfielder cannot return by himself but must rely on the Liverpool team.
