Rio Ferdinand believes Virgil van Dijk’s struggles are due to Liverpool’s inconsistency this season

Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen have insisted that Virgil van Dijk’s slump in form is the result of Liverpool’s broader struggles this season.

The Dutch defender has been a talisman for the Reds since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018.

However, Van Dijk has struggled at times this campaign and was exposed along with the rest of Liverpool’s defense in their 5-2 first-leg defeat to Real Madrid at Anfield last month.

He was also partly to blame for Philip Billing’s goal for Bournemouth on Saturday when he failed to stop Dango Ouattara’s cross.

And, speaking of Van Dijk’s discomfort ahead of the second leg with Real Madrid on Wednesday, Ferdinand told BT Sport: “There are phases in your career where things don’t go as planned.”

“(But) you look at the big center backs like Vidic, Kompany, Campbell, Terry, Jaap Stam, they don’t have an off season or big stretches like eight or nine games.”

“However, the form of the team plays a role and has an impact and sometimes you are only as good as the team around you.”

“He hasn’t had the team acting in the way that suits his style of play.”

Former Reds star Owen agreed, pointing out how inconsistency from Jurgen Klopp’s side, coupled with their not-so-efficient pressing, has exposed Van Dijk.

And he added: ‘WWhen Liverpool are playing well, you don’t have much to do (as a defender), they win the ball up front.

“The problem is that they are exposed (at the moment) so it’s a difficult position to play if your team isn’t performing well.”

“It is difficult at the moment because he is exposing himself one against one. If they’re playing nice, you don’t even notice and he just cleans everything up.