Liverpool captain Van Dijk reveals hidden talent and calls for Trent consistency

Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk has spoken about why he has never been a regular free-kick taker throughout his six years at the club.

The Netherlands defender joined from Southampton in 2018 but before that first spell in the Premier League, he played for Celtic in Scotland.

During those two years for Celtic, Van Dijk scored 15 goals from centre back with three of them coming from direct free-kicks.

It appeared that he was one of those rare defenders who also was a bit of a set-piece specialist but that has never transpired at Liverpool.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster put the question to Van Dijk about why he has never had a period of time on set-pieces.

VAN DIJK WANTS TRENT TO BE CONSISTENT

Speaking on Amazon Prime YouTube when asked about if we will ever see it again Van Dijk said: “I don’t know.

“Listen people forget that we have a very good free-kicker in the team with Trent.

“When something is good, don't change it that much. So I feel like obviously you have to practice, that you have to get into it and I left it for now because Trent is amazing in that, I want him to be more consistent.

“You show him the numbers and the goals he scored that he can be very, very good.”

Alexander-Arnold, who has been linked with Real Madrid, has been the go-to player for Liverpool free-kicks for many years now as he has an impressive collection of goals from them.

However Foster suggested that if he misses a couple Van Dijk should try his luck again.

The 33-year-old replied sarcastically as he said: “I’ll try and do it then I hit the wall.”

During the six years at Anfield, the legendary defender has only ever attempted four shots at goal from free-kicks in the Premier League.

With Alexander-Arnold still only 25 years old as well it does appear that fans will never see Van Dijk be the main man when a set-piece is within shooting distance so they'll never know what might have been.