Rio Ferdinand leaps to the defence of Liverpool star after mistake in Napoli defeat

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Rio Ferdinand has told BT Sport that Virgil van Dijk cannot be criticised for one mistake after the defender gave the ball away for Fernando Llorente to score Napoli’s second against Liverpool on Tuesday night.

In what was a very equal Group E clash, Napoli finally find their way past Adrian after Andy Robertson controversially conceded a penalty for a foul on Spanish veteran Jose Callejon. Dries Mertens stepped up, and scored.

With the match in injury time, Liverpool were desperate to get the ball up the other end of the pitch and van Dijk tries to pass to Robertson – after winning the ball back. However, his pass is overhit, and Llorente latched on to score a second for Napoli.

Manchester United icon Ferdinand has leaped to the defence of the £75million defender, reminding fans that he has been sensational for Liverpool since joining the club in January 2018 from Southampton.

“He would have put it up the pitch [if Liverpool were not chasing the game]”, Ferdinand said. “He’s trying to keep the ball in play because he knows the time is running out. He’s tried to overplay and he’s been punished.

“It’s not often we’ve said that about van Dijk over the past year. He’s had one mistake, you can’t kill him for it.”

TBR’s view – van Dijk mistake shows even the best are human

There is no doubt that van Dijk is one of the best players in the world, and arguably the best defender right now in world football. But even the best make mistakes and unfortunately, when you are a defender, a mistake normally means a goal.

It is a harsh one for van Dijk, who as Ferdinand says, would have put the ball into row z or cleared his lines had Liverpool been in control of the match. But with the Reds chasing the game, he opted to make a risky pass.

Van Dijk has saved Liverpool many goals over the past season and a half, and one mistake such as this is not worth the scrutiny.