Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has brushed off claims of arrogance.
The former Southampton defender has been the best in the world since he arrived at Anfield, but errors have begun creeping into his game.
It started with Arsenal when van Dijk and Alisson Becker handed the Gunners a win, and that hot streak of mistakes has continued into the 2020/2021 campaign.
Leeds United then took advantage of his horrible attempt to clear a through ball as Patrick Bamford scored their second goal of the game.
Jamie Carragher called Virgil van Dijk ‘arrogant’, while Graeme Souness reckoned the Dutchman had a ‘stinker’. Those claims have been brushed aside.
Speaking after the game, Sport Bible reported that the central defender put the mistake down to nothing really, and claimed that it wouldn’t worry him.
"He said: “It was one of those… they are situations that can happen.“I always try to do my best and that’s what I did. Unfortunately a goal came from it but I don’t worry about that.”"
Except this should be worrying him. Van Dijk is the best defender in the world, but he won’t be able to hang on to that tag if he keeps gifting the opposition goals.
It did appear to be a slightly lazy effort to clear the ball away from the danger area, and there might have been some miscommunication between him and Alisson.
Chelsea are up next on Sunday and they’ll be a lot more clinical in front of goal and will pounce on any weakness. Frank Lampard’s side aren’t great at the back but they’re dynamit moving forward – especially with the addition of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.
We’ll see this weekend whether van Dijk is able to shake off the malaise that gripped him against Arsenal and Leeds. Joe Gomez wasn’t in the best form either, and Joel Matip must be licking his lips at the thought of getting in the side.
Is van Dijk arrogant? Maybe not, but he has been worryingly mistake prone.