Ally McCoist says Liverpool have a player who just doesn't get the credit he deserves

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Arne Slot has built something of a super team in his attempt to retain the Premier League title, and so far, it appears to be working.

However, despite being at the top of their game, many of the Liverpool players are overlooked in terms of awards, with this being proven with Mohamed Salah with the Ballon d’Or on Monday night.

But, Ally McCoist believes there is another star who simply does not get the credit he deserves, with the Scotsman having a theory as to why.

Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Salah had to settle for fourth place in the Ballon d’Or rankings on Monday, finishing behind the likes of Vitinha, Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele.

But something even more surprising was Virgil van Dijk finishing in 28th, an incredibly low ranking given his influence on Liverpool.

McCoist had his say on this over on talkSPORT, and he believes that the Dutchman does not get the credit he deserves, with the Ballon d’Or not accommodating for defenders.

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“I don’t get it either, but there will be reasons for it, and I think one of the main ones is I believe that it is easier to destroy than create,” he said.

READ MORE: Liverpool fans have a lot to say after Mohamed Salah misses out on winning Ballon d’Or

“With that said, I do not believe that they [defenders] get an honourable mention in this award.

We naturally look to the other end of the pitch.

“What I am saying is Virgil van Dijk will not get as many plaudits for his work, which is just as important to Liverpool as Mo Salah’s work.

This is because we naturally enjoy seeing a brilliant pass, goal, a brilliant piece of creativity, more than we do a tackle.

We still appreciate that, but not to the same extent.”

There is no denying that van Dijk did not deserve to win the award this year, but back in 2019, he made a very strong case that he should have.

In the end, he finished just seven points behind Lionel Messi in the rankings, and if the Dutchman had won it, he would have been the first defender to do so since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.

But, whether they get the credit they deserve or not, Michael Owen previously said that defenders should not win the award as their job is much easier.

“Defenders for that matter too [should not be voted for].

It is easier to defend than it is to create,” he said on the Rio Ferdinand presents podcast

“If you asked me to build this house, I wouldn’t be able to do it.

But if you gave me a few weeks, I’d be able to knock it down.”

Whether fans agree or disagree with this is very much up to them, but if one thing is for sure, van Dijk is, somehow, still criminally underrated according to many.