Virgil van Dijk Has Already Highlighted Liverpool’s Biggest Issue as a Worst-in-Europe Record Emerges

Liverpool's defensive frailties, particularly from set-pieces, have been laid bare as Virgil van Dijk voiced his frustration following a hard-fought win over Wolves. The Reds' captain fumed about the team's habit of conceding goals, emphasizing a persistent weakness that has plagued them this season[1].

Despite a strong first half and a comeback after falling behind, Liverpool struggled in the final 20 minutes against Wolves, making the game unnecessarily tense. Van Dijk acknowledged the team's hard work but pinpointed their inability to see out matches: "We constantly concede!" he said, highlighting how opponents exploit this vulnerability repeatedly[1]. Defensively, Liverpool has been subpar, managing just five clean sheets in 18 games—a statistic that underscores their worst-in-Europe record for set-piece concessions[1].

The Wolves match exemplified the issue, with Liverpool conceding from a corner. Van Dijk was candid about set-piece defending: "We've defended so many set-pieces very well. But the fact is we've conceded too many goals like that and it hurts. We have to improve that. It's about repetition, training, analysing... I'd say at least 75 per cent of the time—or even more—it's not even about the first contact, it's the second phase that is the killer."[1] This second-phase vulnerability has become Liverpool's Achilles' heel, turning promising performances into precarious ones.

Van Dijk's comments echo broader concerns for Arne Slot's side, who sit atop the top four after overtaking Chelsea to end 2025 positively. However, to sustain their title challenge, addressing this glaring issue is imperative. Liverpool faces Leeds United at Anfield on January 1, offering a chance to start the New Year with a clean sheet and renewed defensive solidity[1].

With the Premier League race intensifying, Van Dijk's call for improvement rings louder amid Europe's poorest set-piece record. Fans and analysts alike await whether training tweaks can stem the tide of late concessions[1].

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