Ally McCoist can't contain laughter at Virgil van Dijk team-mate's 'learnt from me' claim
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has endured a tough season during the Reds' struggles.Scotland icon Ally McCoist couldn't contain his laughter when discussing Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk with former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew. The 40-year-old made a tongue-in-cheek jibe that the Reds star learned from the Scotland international.The Liverpool stopper has endured a tough season as his dip in form has coincided with the struggles of the Premier League champions.
But the Holland international will remain while the Reds rebuild without his Premier League and Champions League winning team-mates.READ MORE: Former Liverpool midfielder set to depart Saudi Arabia after linking up with Steven GerrardMulgrew talked about how Van Dijk overcame his struggles at Celtic during his time with the Scottish Premiership giants. The 40-year-old believes that Liverpool's poor season has contributed to his struggles but defended his former teammate.Speaking on talkSPORT, Mulgrew brought laughs from McCoist as he said: "Van Dijk learned a lot from me.
He dribbles out, 35 yards, hits the underside of the bar and you're thinking, 'jeez oh, he's a proper player'."We played away in a European qualifier, they threw everything in the box, launching it, the big man got a bit bullied that night, he got dropped for the second leg."That night, you're thinking, 'the big man's not the best in the air, that's his issue, ' he quickly solved that. Nobody beat him in the air after that."As a centre-back, it's never down to you, you're relying on your midfield, full-backs, 'keeper, the massive thing for a centre-back is that you're looking for clean sheets, the longer the game goes on and you're looking for clean sheets, you look quicker, faster, stronger."People are talking as if he's slowed down, maybe not as fit or his legs have gone but it's only because of how Liverpool are doing, there's no way his legs have gone."McCoist added: "I've got my own theory on Van Dijk, I actually think at times it looked too easy for him."Liverpool have a battle for Champions League qualification on their hands following their PSG elimination.