Former Liverpool star Glen Johnson has told Virgil van Dijk he ‘gets away with murder’ because of his name after Saturday’s dismal 3-3 draw at Leeds.
Liverpool’s catastrophic start to the season continued at the weekend as the Premier League champions slipped to 10th in the table after conceding a last-gasp equaliser at Elland Road.
After the draw, Mohamed Salah attacked the club in an explosive interview to reporters, claiming he had been ‘thrown under the bus’ after being named on the bench for a third successive game.
Meanwhile, big money summer signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, who arrived for £116million and £125m respectively, have been loudly criticised amid Liverpool’s dismal run, along with struggling first-team defenders Ibrahima Konate and Milos Kerkez.
But Johnson has now taken aim at club captain Van Dijk, claiming the Dutchman is ‘getting away with murder’ after putting in a string of substandard performances.
The ex-England international believes Van Dijk, who is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in Premier League history, escapes criticism because of his status at the club.
Insisting he is as much to blame for Liverpool’s meltdown this campaign, Johnson told BetWright Casino: ‘Virgil van Dijk has been at fault just as much as Ibrahima Konate recently, if not more.
‘Because his name is Van Dijk, he gets away with murder. I still think he’s a world class player and has been for a long time, but at the minute, he’s been nowhere near his best level – and neither have the players around him.
‘I think Konate has been thrown under the bus a little bit, which is understandable because he’s made a few mistakes recently. But so has everybody. The entire Liverpool back line keeps making errors – and Van Dijk is no exception.’
Konate, already guilty of several costly defensive errors this season, was at fault again for Leeds’ first goal at Elland Road, conceding a penalty with a mistimed challenge on Wilfried Gnonto.
Meanwhile, Van Dijk largely escaped criticism for his feeble attempt to block Sunderland’s equaliser through Chemsdine Talbi in the 1-1 draw days before.
He also handed Liverpool the worst possible start during their damning 4-1 defeat by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last month, conceding a penalty with a blatant hand ball.
Despite falling short of his usually high standards on the pitch, Van Dijk has consistently fronted up as club captain, taking responsibility in interviews both personally and on behalf of the team.
Johnson, who played at Anfield for six seasons between 2009 and 2015, has urged his former club to bolster their ranks in defence during the January transfer window.
‘Liverpool need a new centre-back in January,’ he continued. ‘The first player that comes to mind is Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.
‘Whether he can join a club like Liverpool and kick on is a question, but I think he needs to be given that chance to prove himself at the top level, like he’s done for England.
‘I think he would be a great signing for Liverpool. They definitely need to get in some players in January.’
