"Van Dijk wasn’t at his best" - Jamie Carragher on last season

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes that Reds centre-back Virgil van Dijk was not at his best last season.

During the 2020-21 campaign, the Dutchman suffered a serious knee injury against Everton at Goodison Park.

Van Dijk missed a total of 45 games during the 2020-21 season as a result. However, the defender was available for the entire 2021-22 campaign.

But, Carragher believes that Van Dijk was not at best last season due to the knee injury he sustained back in October 2020.

“There was a point between them (Liverpool and Man City) last season and I think that in the second half of last season Liverpool were the better team, while City were better in the first half, and they built that lead up," he told 90Min (00:45).

"I think a lot had to do with the fact that Van Dijk wasn’t at his best in the first half of the season. I think van Dijk being at his best gives Liverpool a real chance, it really does."

Anfield Watch Verdict

To be fair to Van Dijk, we thought that he was pretty solid for the majority of the 2021-22 season. The centre-back averaged a WhoScored player rating of 7.18 across 34 Premier League appearances.

Van Dijk also helped Liverpool win the League Cup and FA Cup. So, we don't entirely agree with Carragher's take.

But, everyone is entitled to an opinion. On another note, Liverpool were very good defensively last season.

The Reds only conceded 26 goals in 38 Premier League games. Despite that being the case, Jurgen Klopp's side finished in second-place on the Premier League table.

If Liverpool are to challenge for the title this season, they will need to be as defensively sound as they were during the 2021-22 campaign.