He may have been on the wrong end of a 3-0 defeat, but Virgil van Dijk was one of few Southampton players who emerged from today’s game with any credit.
The Dutchman, still Liverpool’s priority for the January transfer window after we failed to buy him in the summer, made a few key interceptions which stopped the scoreline getting out of hand.
He also got crunched by Dejan Lovren, which was naturally a moment that sent Twitter into overdrive, considering the Croat is the man most Reds want van Dijk to replace.
In fairness though, Lovren was superb on his first start since the Tottenham nightmare – but it’s not the fact he isn’t capable of top defending – it’s his inconsistency in showing it.
Virtually all would still have van Dijk at the nearest possible opportunity, as this reaction probably proves:
Klopp is currently standing just 30 yards from Van Dijk. SOMEBODY FILE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TO PREMIER LEAGUE QUICK!!!!!!!
— Chris Bascombe (@_ChrisBascombe) November 18, 2017
Van Dijk leaving Anfield looking at the Liverpool squad. pic.twitter.com/4ToGdLhEtf
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) November 18, 2017
Virgil Van Dijk wants to show Liverpool what they’re missing……. pic.twitter.com/YYZfhj2VSR
— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) November 18, 2017
Van Dijk at Anfield.
He looks so happy to be there. pic.twitter.com/xDL4nWuC3o
— – (@AnfieldRd96) November 18, 2017
Not to bad an audition from Virgil van Dijk even though @SouthamptonFC lost 3-0 #LFC #LFCSOU
— Ishan Agarwal (@SpiritedKlopp) November 18, 2017
Did Van Dijk have a klopp hug!!?? #LFC 🙄😉
— Anuraag Marepally (@tweet4manuraag) November 18, 2017
No wonder #Vandijk can't wait to leave. They are poop. Another solid 3 points though. On to #Sevilla we go #LFC #YNWA
— Andrew Okin (@AJO1) November 18, 2017