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Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to an incredible 16 points after coming from behind to beat Southampton at Anfield.

The Reds managed to get over the line against the Premier League celler dwellers thanks to Darwin Nunez’s inspired attacking performance coupled with two penalties from Mohamed Salah, with Liverpool starting off a huge week in the right form.

Although Arne Slot says he made a mistake starting one Liverpool player, the win is ultimately all that matters for the Merseyside giants, who face PSG next in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday before taking on Newcastle United in the League Cup final on Sunday.

Yet Liverpool have now been issued a worrying statement on Virgil van Dijk’s recent form heading into these two huge games.

Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Speaking on ESPN FC, Craig Burley shared how Van Dijk’s recent displays could be viewed as a problem for Liverpool, with the pundit noting that the Dutch international looked ‘hesitant’ at the back against Southampton.

With Alexis Mac Allister winning plaudits for his performance in Liverpool’s midfield, Van Dijk’s underwhelming showing at the back was once again deflected by those giving a good showing ahead of the defence for Liverpool.

Yet for Burley, the Liverpool captain needs to improve this week if he’s to get out of this mini-slump having failed to impress against PSG and Southampton, two games where the Reds look far from their usual best despite coming away with wins.

Burley said: “It’s a worry for midweek, because Van Dijk has been arguably the best defender in Europe for the bulk of this season, but he was hesitant today against the worst team in the Premier League by a stretch, especially after he had his worst game against Paris.”

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Van Dijk’s performance against Southampton was one that the 33-year-old Anfield captain will want to forget quickly, with the defender far from his best against his former side, who this season have been the worst in the Premier League.

Yet Van Dijk is far from the only Liverpool player to look off the boil against the Saints, with Kostas Tsimikas enduring a tough afternoon on Merseyside against Southampton alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, who looked fatigued.

With two massive games coming up, Slot will hope his top performers can turn a corner sooner rather than later, especially with PSG and Newcastle likely to smell blood with Liverpool in their fixtures next week.


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