How did Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), the world’s most expensive defender, fall this far?
Liverpool, led by coach Jurgen Klopp, lost 2-5 in the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2022-2023 European Champions League (UCL) against Real Madrid held at Anfield in Liverpool, England on the 22nd (hereinafter Korean time). Liverpool took a 2-0 lead in the first half. However, he bowed his head by conceding five goals in a row to Real Madrid. According to Opta, a media outlet specializing in football records, this is the first time Liverpool have conceded five goals in a European match at home. It is also the first time in UCL history to lose with a difference of 3 goals even after scoring 2 goals first.
The British press Express said on the 22nd, ‘5 Liverpool players scored only 4 points. Van Dyke was one of them,’ he said. Van Dijk, who started as a starter that day, was helpless against the opponent’s attack. The Express said: ‘Van Dijk has been a rock at the heart of Liverpool’s defense for years. But he couldn’t keep pace against Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti’s players. Real Madrid cut Liverpool’s defence too easily. Van Dyke couldn’t do anything’, he harshly criticized. 온라인바카라
Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018. His transfer fee at the time was £75 million. In front of his name, the modifier ‘the most expensive defender in the world’ was added. Van Dijk has been a key player in Liverpool’s defense. He took the lead in Liverpool winning the European Champions League (UCL) in the 2018-2019 season and the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2019-2020 season. However, he has been showing a particularly slow pace this season.