Liverpool and Dutch defender, Virgil Van Dijk, who is the captain of the national team, switched to a new position midway through their victory over Greece.
The new Liverpool captain played the full 90 in a game that the Dutch dominated. Fellow club teammate, Cody Gakpo scored in a 3-0 win for the Oranje over Kostas Tsimikas’ Greece.
Liverpool captain, Van Dijk changed his position in a back three
As per Dutch outlet AD, Van Dijk had a decent game which included an interesting change in his position.
After treble winner, Nathen Ake’s substitution, the Liverpool captain took over his left-sided position. The Dutch were playing a back three and the defender switched to playing as an LCB.
For a defender who would always play in the middle of the three centre-backs, this was new for the 32-year-old.
However, given the comfortable score-line, the Liverpool man was said to be untroubled by the midway switch.
This may not be a huge change for Van Dijk, but there is a fair difference between playing in the middle or on the left of a back three.
It’s also interesting from a Liverpool point of view, given the debate around bringing in a left-sided centre-back.
Indeed, the defender has played on the left ever since arriving at Anfield in 2018. But with Trent‘s new inverted role at right full-back, plenty of Liverpool fans have been calling out for a player like Ake who can play left centre-back, as well as a full-back.
But the Dutch defender doesn’t look like that player with his strength being a picture-perfect CB. He couldn’t be asked to play a different role than that.
However, it might be good for the Reds as Virgil can get some familiarity in the role. Although there’s no suggestion that Klopp would change his position, it might be something for the future.
Meanwhile, Klopp isn’t a manager to play a back three or a back five. But with a positional change in Trent, there is no guarantee that it wouldn’t cross the German’s mind.
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