Could an ageing Van Dijk be a problem in Iraola's Liverpool team?

A brief moment during Liverpool's recent match against Como, their final pre-season friendly, went largely unnoticed by the Anfield crowd at the time. The game concluded with a 2-0 victory for Andoni Iraola's side, with Jeremy Jacquet making an impressive debut.

In the first half, a disagreement occurred between Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk. Szoboszlai pressed, but Como managed to pass the ball into the space behind him. The midfielder was visibly frustrated to find that Van Dijk had not moved up to close the gap.

Already, one game into the Premier League season, and within five minutes of the match against Newcastle, signs suggest this could pose a problem for Andoni Iraola. He wants his team to press high. But does his veteran captain share this desire?

Van Dijk's failure to advance was a contributing factor to Newcastle's opening goal. While Anthony Elanga's 61-meter run was significant, William Osula was able to pass to him without being closed down, as Jamie Carragher pointed out on Sky Sports.

"Virgil van Dijk should initially be higher, and if he is higher, he could then make the challenge there," Carragher stated. "But we're talking about a defender who is 35, nearing the end of his career, and one of the greatest players we've seen in that position."

This is a common occurrence with such players, as Carragher is well aware. "It's very reminiscent of John Terry in that position. Do you remember John Terry under [Andre] Villas-Boas? He didn't want to go there. So, you almost have to play to his strengths."

He added, concerning Van Dijk: "It's not just that Liverpool need protection in midfield and need more players there; he needs protection. This is probably the first season where he cannot help anyone else; he needs help himself." But will he receive that in Iraola's system?

The Basque coach achieved remarkable results in his three seasons with Bournemouth, cultivating one of the most dynamic teams in the Premier League. Iraola became known for his aggressive style, but this approach places particular demands on his defenders.

A consequence of defending high is that space is often created behind the defensive line. Bournemouth conceded the highest direct speed against them of any Premier League team last season, meaning opponents progressed the ball up the pitch quicker against them than any other side.

At Liverpool, this could be an issue. While Milos Kerkez couldn't catch Elanga, it also doesn't play to Van Dijk's strengths. The Liverpool captain possessed all the qualities of a top central defender in his prime, but some attributes are more enduring than others.

He remains a formidable defender in both penalty boxes and possesses an impressive passing range with the ball at his feet anywhere on the pitch. However, when out of possession near the halfway line, this can be a challenging position even for elite ageing centre-backs.

There is some evidence suggesting that Van Dijk's speed is not what it once was. His fastest top speed recorded in his Premier League career occurred during his debut season with Southampton, after his move from Celtic.

His top speed as a Liverpool player was registered during the club's title-winning campaign under Jurgen Klopp. But that was a long time ago. Over the three seasons prior to this one, Van Dijk's top speed has declined. It is no longer an asset for him.

Van Dijk now relies more than ever on his physicality and intelligent positional play, but this becomes more difficult if the spaces he is expected to manage become larger. The problems for Liverpool only increase if those ahead press and he does not follow.

Any tension between Van Dijk and Szoboszlai that day was momentary, and the Dutchman was highly complimentary of his teammate after his penalty salvaged a point at Newcastle. He even praised Szoboszlai's leadership qualities, stating, "He is here to take over."

But when will that transition occur? Following a season where Mohamed Salah's status at Liverpool changed more rapidly than anyone could have predicted, Van Dijk's role under Iraola is something worth monitoring. This is because Liverpool's midfield is also becoming a challenge for him.