CHRIS SUTTON: Is it no Virgil van Dijk, no title defence for Liverpool?

CHRIS SUTTON: Is it no Virgil van Dijk, no title defence for Liverpool? Dutchman’s injury smacks of Manchester City’s struggles after losing talisman Vincent Kompany

  • Virgil van Dijk looks set to miss much of the 2020-21 season with an ACL injury
  • With just five games played, it could be a huge blow to their title chances 
  • It’s akin to Manchester City’s defensive woes after losing Vincent Kompany 
  • The Premier League title race has been blown open by the Dutchman’s bad luck  

Losing Virgil van Dijk can be the difference between Liverpool winning the Premier League and losing their grip on the trophy they waited so long to lift.

We saw what happened to Manchester City after they lost their talisman Vincent Kompany and failed to replace him. 

They surrendered to Liverpool, finishing 18 points behind Jurgen Klopp’s men. This is akin to that. 

Liverpool were the team to beat in pre-season but the title race has been blown wide open

Virgil van Dijk's ACL injury is set to rule the Dutchman out for the rest of the 2020-21 season

Virgil van Dijk’s ACL injury is set to rule the Dutchman out for the rest of the 2020-21 season

The plight Liverpool face is akin to Manchester City's struggles since Vincent Kompany's exit

The plight Liverpool face is akin to Manchester City’s struggles since Vincent Kompany’s exit

The title race is on. This is the world’s best central defender who will now have to watch his team try to cope without him.

You have to say news of this magnitude means Liverpool’s chances of winning what they want in England and Europe this season have taken a hit. 

It was a disgraceful challenge by Jordan Pickford and one which should have seen the Everton goalkeeper dismissed.

Van Dijk was injured by Jordan Pickford's recklessness and the keeper should have seen red

Van Dijk was injured by Jordan Pickford’s recklessness and the keeper should have seen red

I was surprised by one caller on BBC Radio 5 Live on Saturday night. It was an Everton supporter, who suggested Van Dijk deserved what he got because he’d been roughing up the opposition.

What a load of rubbish. I’m confident he doesn’t represent the wider Everton community.

Most supporters, even rivals of Liverpool, should be wishing Van Dijk well.