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‘He doesn’t talk!’: Graeme Souness questions whether Virgil van Dijk is ‘a leader’ for Liverpool, as the Reds icon calls on the Dutchman to ‘get angry’ after Bryan Robson praises the defender’s ability to ‘ organize people’ in the back
Graeme Souness has questioned Virgil van Dijk’s leadership for Liverpool, arguing that the Dutchman is not talkative enough on the pitch.
Souness, himself a former Liverpool captain, claimed that the Dutch defender rarely gets angry at the Reds, adding that he “doesn’t talk!”
Van Dijk is widely regarded as having had a transformative impact on Liverpool’s defence, with the club winning a Champions League title and ending their long wait for a Premier League title since his arrival.
However, the former Scotland international called the Dutch defender ‘angry’ by criticizing his ability to guide the team, having worn the armband numerous times in the past.
Manchester United legend Bryan Robson suggested Van Dijk was a key leadership figure for the Reds, along with veteran midfielders James Milner and Jordan Henderson, with Liverpool set to host United on Sunday.
Graeme Souness questioned Virgil van Dijk’s leadership, claiming the defender doesn’t talk enough
The Dutch defender has three goals in the Premier League this season after scoring against Wolves
“Liverpool’s successful years were when (James) Milner and (Jordan) Henderson were at their peak because they are aggressive, they are leaders, they yell at people, they organize people, and that helps and then (Virgil) Van Dijk as well. it was very similar when it first arrived,’ Robson claimed, in a conversation with Souness for Sportsmail.
“Suddenly they had three people who were leaders for the rest of them.”
‘I’m not sure if Van Dijk is a leader, he doesn’t speak!’ Souness argued. Have you ever seen him angry? Get angry, please!
Van Dijk has missed seven games so far this season and has himself claimed that he may have played too many games, causing injury problems.
When fit, however, the defender has been a huge figure in the Reds’ quest to finish in the Champions League places this season, having captained the team six times in 2022-23.
He has also worn the armband for his country, the Netherlands, in all five of his country’s World Cup matches in Qatar.
Liverpool have struggled this season to replicate the form that has seen them skyrocket to prominence as one of the leading teams in world football in recent years.
Bryan Robson, by contrast, was full of praise for Van Dijk’s position in the team alongside leaders James Milner and Jordan Henderson.
But Souness suggested that part of the Reds’ problem has been their midfield, claiming they are not the same three-man unit without Georginio Wijnaldium, who left the club for PSG in 2021.
“The best midfield they had was Wijnaldum, Henderson and Milner,” Souness continued.
“They weren’t the most talented, but I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to play against them – they’re with you all the time, they keep your head down and they’d work you all the time.”
“That intensity has left Liverpool’s midfield and I think that affects how high up the field they win the ball now and it also affects them defensively, because now if I’m playing against them I can raise my head.”