Klopp given long-term Liverpool headache by France vs Netherlands

Robin Bairner

• 24 Mar 2023 23:09 GMT
• 3 min read

France’s crushing 4-0 European Championship qualifying success over the Netherlands at Stade de France would not have given Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp any pleasure if he tuned into the game.

Klopp has his share of problems because of his ageing Reds squad, with the midfield in desperate need of a dramatic overhaul in the summer.

It was a move that the Anfield club should, with hindsight, have made a summer ago. But the mistake was made, they will move on and they must learn from it.

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Klopp, then, would be forgiven for being concerned by the performance of keystone defender Virgil van Dijk in Paris. Sure, the 31-year-old centre-back was not directly to blame for any of France’s four goals and was fighting a battle to keep his side upright with the hapless Lutsharel Geertruida alongside him in defence, but he did not produce a performance worthy of his status.

Following a serious knee injury in October 2020, doubts have been cast over Van Dijk’s ability to get back to his best level. He’s got back to a very good level, but is not the great player he once was, and the evidence was as he faced up to the speed of Kylian Mbappe and Randal Kolo Muani, who may be playing for Manchester United next season, that his time at a very elite club is into its twilight.

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Van Dijk's 'shipwreck' in France loss

L’Equipe marked his performance as a 3/10, while FootMercato went into detail about why his display was so disappointing:

“It’s when the boat pitches that you learn the real captains of the ship, and it is clear that the Liverpool man experienced a true shipwreck. In a gala meeting like this, you have the right to expect more from a player who was once second in the Ballon d’Or, and yet he was feverish throughout the match. He defended on his heels, constantly retreating in fear of the speed of Kolo Muani and Mbappe.”

It was a match in which Van Dijk started to look his age against a youthful and vibrant opponent. He will be 32 by the time next season starts and such encounters will become increasingly testing, particularly with the high line that Klopp favours.

Perhaps, then, it is time for Liverpool to learn from their midfield mistakes and put a succession plan in place now.