Could an ageing Van Dijk struggle in Liverpool's high-pressing system?
Quick summary
Sky Sports analysis examines whether Virgil van Dijk, now 35, can continue to excel as Liverpool's centre-back in a system that demands aggressive high pressing.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceThere was a moment during Liverpool’s recent win over Como that barely registered with the Anfield crowd at the time. It was their final pre-season friendly and Andoni Iraola's side won the game 2-0 with Jeremy Jacquet impressing on his debut.
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What happened
An editorial piece from Sky Sports scrutinises the evolving demands placed on Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool's captain enters the latter stage of his career. The article contrasts the high-line, aggressive pressing approach favoured by Andoni Iraola-style coaches with the physical toll it takes on an ageing central defender. It raises tactical questions about whether Liverpool's current structure still suits a player whose game has historically been built on positioning and anticipation rather than recovery pace. The piece situates this discussion within Liverpool's broader squad-building challenges as they balance short-term competitiveness with long-term succession planning at the back.
Chance analysis
Van Dijk remains one of the Premier League's most influential defenders, but the conversation around his longevity highlights a structural issue facing Liverpool: elite centre-halves tend to age out of systems that demand repeated high-speed recovery. If Liverpool continue to press aggressively and operate a high defensive line, the margin for error behind the back four shrinks considerably when the last line loses a yard of pace. The real question is not whether Van Dijk declines, but when — and whether Liverpool have a credible succession plan ready before that curve bends.
Liverpool's defensive ceiling may gradually narrow as Van Dijk ages, particularly in high-pressing tactical setups that require recovery speed.