Ex-Liverpool star points finger of blame over Virgil van Dijk's difficult season
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesVirgil Van DijkThe Liverpool captain's performance levels have dropped this season, but one former Dutch star believes that is not necessarily Virgil van Dijk's fault in what has been a chaotic campaignRyan Babel has defended Virgil van Dijk's performance levels this season(Image: Getty Images)Former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel has defended Virgil van Dijk’s inconsistent performances this season and believes the errors that have impacted his campaign have been more due to the performance levels of others.Van Dijk’s usually flawless standards have certainly dropped in 2025/26, with several notable defensive mistakes that have cost the team. In Liverpool’s first match back after the March international break, the skipper gave away a penalty against Manchester City, which resulted in the first of four goals conceded.While it has not been a terrible campaign, mistakes of any nature from a player who has traditionally maintained such high levels have been pounced upon by rivals.READ MORE: Freddie Woodman details Arne Slot reaction vs Everton and why he didn't celebrate Liverpool winnerREAD MORE: Curtis Jones details classy Mohamed Salah gesture that sums up Liverpool legendBut Babel, the ex-Dutch international, feels that Van Dijk’s performances have been impacted by the general decline in the team’s defensive stability.Liverpool has been without a settled right-back for the entire season.
Milos Kerkez’s first few months as a Red were blighted by a number of error-strewn displays, while Ibrahima Konate’s form has been inconsistent.Van Dijk has often been forced to overcompensate for those issues, and Babel thinks that has not received sufficient media coverage.Van Dijk's performances have dropped this season(Image: Getty Images)“I really hope that he will stay because he’s one of the players – he’s a leader,” the 39-year-old told Empire of the Kop in a recent interview.“Normally he brings his performance all the time, but if you have players around you who are always making mistakes and you’re always in between, then you’re not looking good.“He has not had the best season, and not the best confidence either, but he’s still, for me, absolutely the tower at the back,” Babel added.Babel made 146 appearances for Liverpool during his career(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)“It was so easy to score goals against Liverpool – it was unbelievable – but he was, for me, the only one who had the feeling, 'Okay, he knows what to do.'“The players around him were really putting in a bad performance, and so he ends up struggling as well.”Van Dijk signed a new contract at Liverpool 12 months ago and most anticipate he will leave Anfield when it expires in 2027.The imminent departures of long-term teammates Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have sharpened focus that the 34-year-old is nearing the end, with Liverpool also acquiring two young center-backs - Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni - in the last two transfer windows to prepare for that transition.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCVirgil Van Dijk