‘I Don’t Think It’s Unreasonable’ To Say Liverpool Star Has Declined – Legend

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Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Dutch legend Wesley Sneijder has claimed that it is ‘not unreasonable’ to say that Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk has declined from his peak as a defender. Van Dijk would have been relieved that they had done enough to secure Champions League football despite the poor standards of performances during the season, as he now turns his attention to captaining the Dutch at the World Cup.

Sneijder feels that the towering centre-back finds it difficult to handle situations he might have handled with ease three or four years ago, choosing to analyse Van Dijk’s performances individually, rather than as a whole. Despite stressing that Van Dijk is ‘indispensable’ to Dutch chances at the World Cup, Sneijder added that it is ‘not unreasonable’ to say that the centre-back’s performances have diminished over the past few years.

“Three or four years ago that was different, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable that you are allowed and even expected to mention that once in a while.” Sneijder said in 2023 that Van Dijk avoided him during the FIFA gala in Paris because the Liverpool man cannot handle criticism. While Van Dijk is undoubtedly not the same player that he was a few years ago, claims of a decline might be overstated and premature if Liverpool’s form is taken into context.