Wayne Rooney did not hold back in his criticism of Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool conceded an early goal against PSG in the Champions League. He accused the Dutch defender of being too slow to react, allowing Ousmane Dembele to score.
Liverpool had secured a vital away win in Paris, but their lead quickly vanished at Anfield. In just 12 minutes, Dembele initiated a move, sending the ball wide to Bradley Barcola before sprinting into the box to receive the return pass.
Despite the presence of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, and an onrushing Alisson Becker, Dembele managed to slot the ball into the net. It was his 29th goal of the season, punishing Liverpool’s defensive lapse.
Rooney, providing analysis for Amazon Prime, pointed out van Dijk’s lack of urgency. He criticized the defender for walking instead of closing the space, which left a clear opening for Dembele to exploit.
He also highlighted Konate’s poor awareness, stating that Dembele had far too much space to make his run. Rooney stressed that simple positioning adjustments could have prevented the goal.
Daniel Sturridge also weighed in, praising Dembele for staying focused and taking advantage of Liverpool’s defensive errors. He emphasized that good communication was key, something Liverpool lacked in that moment.
Liverpool’s failure to organize their defense proved costly as PSG capitalized on their mistakes. The lack of coordination between van Dijk and Konate left the Reds exposed at a crucial time in the match.
With a place in the quarter-finals on the line, Liverpool will have to reassess their defensive strategy. Avoiding such lapses in concentration will be vital if they hope to compete at the highest level.