'Found it so tough': Carragher says one Liverpool will player will be 'pleading with Slot' to scrap the 3-5-2
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Virgil van Dijk will be begging Arne Slot to never again use the 3-5-2 he deployed during Liverpool’s defeat against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, says Jamie Carragher.Van Dijk took on a slightly different role at the Parc des Princes, operating in between Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.And though the Liverpool captain was not glaringly bad, he struggled against the mobility of the PSG front line, with Carragher claiming that the need to go man-to-man meant Van Dijk will not want to revisit the system. 2-0 down vs PSG, it's going to be some ask from here… Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images Carragher has never seen Van Dijk as uncomfortableSpeaking on CBS Sports Golazo after Wednesday’s 2-0 loss, Carragher declared that Slot’s decision to play with three centre-backs actually left Liverpool more exposed, leading to difficulties for Van Dijk.“He’s tried something, but he’s got it massively wrong tactically how he’s gone about it,” said the former Reds centre-back.
He couldn’t do it.”With Gomez and Konate noticeably pushing higher up the pitch, Van Dijk was often left as the very last line of defence for Liverpool, with the system exposing him in a way rarely seen before.Van Dijk set to ‘plead with Arne Slot’ to scrap 3-5-2Van Dijk has come in for criticism recently after dropping his level along with the rest of his Liverpool teammates.And though Carragher was less than impressed with his display in Paris, he also explained why he has plenty of sympathy for the Dutchman. Is it time for Van Dijk to join Salah this summer and leave Liverpool?
The errors are beginning to pile up… Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images “People have criticised Van Dijk this season and I think it’s been harsh because he plays every game, the fella next to him has been awful all season, he was poor again tonight, Konate, so that’s not easy to play alongside,” he said. “So I still think he’s been one of Liverpool’s better players.“But tonight in that back three I have never seen him so uncomfortable in a Liverpool shirt in my life.