'At the end': Steve Nicol takes aim at Virgil van Dijk for what he spotted during Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland

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Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say Van Dijk made a monumental error during the Reds’ Champions League humiliation against PSV Eindhoven last week and looked like a mere mortal once again in Wednesday’s draw with Sunderland.The 34-year-old took a large slice of responsibility for Chemsdine Talbi’s opening goal of the game, and according to former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol, that was not the only thing Van Dijk got wrong on another difficult evening at Anfield.Virgil van Dijk ‘got everything wrong’ against SunderlandUsually one to keep standards so high, it has been strange to see Van Dijk fall foul of that recently. His slack ball to Alexis Mac Allister on Wednesday night was simply not good enough and Talbi punished it.But it was not only the poor pass which upset Nicol, but the manner in which Van Dijk tried to atone for his error.Photo by Carl Recine/Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Liverpool fans should be embarrassed by Regis Le Bris admission as Sunderland leave Anfield with a point“I’ve actually not criticised Van Dijk that much this season but tonight, there is absolutely no question he has to bear a whole lot of responsibility, not just for the goal,” the Liverpool legend said on ESPN FC.“What he did wrong, he gives the ball away, tries to play in Mac Allister who isn’t reading the pass.

In trying to make up for it he could have stepped out and closed the ball because he had Kerkez who had already come in beside him, so he didn’t need to back off. He got absolutely everything wrong.” How did you rate each player during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland? 👇 Join the debate; share your insight.

He’s there to organise and set the example and he absolutely didn’t do that tonight.”Van Dijk form is a worry for LiverpoolThroughout much of the season, criticism regarding Liverpool’s defence has almost always been centred around the performances of Ibrahima Konate.While that has been justified, there are now question marks starting to creep in over Van Dijk as well.You can just about get away with one centre-back not performing to his usual standard, but when both begin to drop off, that is when you start to really worry.For Van Dijk, the problem feels to be one born more out of frustration than anything else. It was faintly ridiculous to see him march up the field – and stay there – in the dying seconds of Wednesday’s game, and he had the air of a man who has simply had enough.Liverpool rely on Van Dijk to be their rock and the back and their leader in tough moments.