Jose Mourinho said the absence of Virgil van Dijk has affected Liverpool’s goal output this season, but The Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick says that problem also applies to Tottenham.
Van Dijk was an ever-present in the Liverpool team that dominated the European and English game in the last two seasons.
The Dutchman rarely gets injured, but his injury in October against Everton is potentially a season-ending one.
Kilpatrick says while Liverpool is missing their main defender, Tottenham has a bunch of defenders that simply aren’t good enough and are undermining the efforts of their attackers.
Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez and Joe Rodon are the current options at Mourinho’s disposal, but none of them is really as good as van Dijk or even close to the Dutchman.
He says that looking for the best pairing among them has been frustrating for the Special One at the club.
He writes on Standard Sport: “While Liverpool are missing their one supreme centre-half, Mourinho has at his disposal a handful of middling ones, whose deficiencies, in his view, are hampering Spurs’ wealth of attacking talent.
“There is little to choose between Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez and Joe Rodon, and Mourinho has grown frustrated with his options as he searches for the best combination.”
Let me stick this off topic here: Spurs should definitely sign Cantwell from Norwich City. He has a lot of Madison in him and we know how not getting Madison turned how. We can’t find a useful #10/#8. This kid has it.
Journalist doing his job, writing on an angle that worth while debating. The fishing line is “Jose has gone frustrated” I never heard Jose said that. So Dan wants to add credence to his opinion rather than ask Jose. Why not throw Jose in there. Atta boy!!!
1 goal in 12 matches says your wrong.
It’s the football equivalent of those Rocky film bouts in some of these matches, the Burnley win yesterday was a great example. Outscore the oppo and forget defence!
There are no outstanding defences in this league currently, simple as that
It’s literally his job to find a combination or combinations that work. He had the same issue at ManU with his defence there and still won trophies so not the end of the world.