Andoni Iraola should be very worried by what Xavi is doing with Virgil van Dijk on international duty
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After seeing him play more than anyone else in Europe last season, Liverpool are at risk of seeing Van Dijk break down. Florian Wirtz scored and won Man of the Match during Germany’s victory over Serbia, what do Liverpool need to do to get him playing like that? 😳 He always looks a totally different player… Wirtz Van Dijk can’t keep playing without a breakDespite turning 35 during the summer and coming into the final year of his contract with the club, Van Dijk is still absolutely crucial to Liverpool.Once again, the Dutchman has played every minute of the Reds’ Premier League season, and has continued to deliver, ranking in the top 8% of centre-backs for duels won, and the top 20% for aerial duels won.As a result, Liverpool cannot afford for him to get injured.
Although Jeremy Jacquet is having an outstanding debut campaign, and is actually out-performing Van Dijk in terms of duels, the captain is still the main man and if he is out for any time at all it could be catastrophic for Iraola and the Reds.The Netherlands obviously rely on him to a similar extent as well, and after Xavi confirmed that Van Dijk will stay on as his captain, the Spain and Barcelona legend has quickly cemented him as one of his guaranteed starters.READ MORE: Florian Wirtz reveals what Jurgen Klopp has told him to do before he returns to Liverpool soonOn Thursday Van Dijk won his 99th cap for his country, and though he scored in what was a slightly disappointing 2-2 draw, the game also belied signs of some fatigue in the veteran defender.Van Dijk was uncharacteristically all at sea for Greece’s opening goal, failing to organise his back line and keeping the Greek attackers onside. A break should have come during this window, and Xavi must ensure it arrives for the Netherlands’ final match against Serbia.Xavi must not play Van Dijk against SerbiaHaving won one and drawn two during the international break so far, Xavi will want to end things on a positive note when the Netherlands face Serbia in Amsterdam.Germany have a tough away match in surprise table-toppers Greece, but if they get a result in Athens and the Netherlands beat Serbia – as they should – Xavi’s team will end the break top of their Nations League group.The presence of that carrot should worry Liverpool supporters, because it will likely mean that Xavi feels he has to play Van Dijk once again.
Injury to Jan Paul van Hecke has disrupted the Spaniard’s plans and it is hard to see him leaving out his skipper on top of that.That would mean 90 more minutes in the tank for Van Dijk ahead of what is such a crucial run for Liverpool, beginning with the mammoth meeting with Manchester City a week after the Dutch face Serbia.Given his history, it is likely that Van Dijk will come through unscathed and will be continue to defy logic and play relentlessly every week. But this is now becoming a ticking time bomb, and if Liverpool want their best defender of the modern era to stay, sign a new contract and play at the highest level deeper into his 30s, they need to put pressure on to make a change when Van Dijk is away with his country.