Liverpool's match against Newcastle saw Van Dijk fail to press in time, a factor that contributed to Newcastle's opening goal. Elanga's 61-meter sprint and finish has been discussed extensively, but as Carragher pointed out on Sky Sports, Ola played the ball to him without being blocked.

Carragher said: "Van Dijk should have positioned himself higher initially, and if he had been in a higher position, he could have cut out the pass there. But we're talking about a 35-year-old defender nearing the end of his career, yet he remains one of the greatest players we've ever seen in that position."

Carragher is acutely aware of the characteristics of such players. He explained: "This is very similar to John Terry's positioning back in the day. Do you remember John Terry under André Villas-Boas? He didn't want to rush forward, so you almost had to play to his strengths."

Carragher added: "For Van Dijk, it's not just that Liverpool needs to provide protection in midfield and push more players into that area; he himself needs to be protected. This is perhaps the first time in his career he can't single-handedly help others, and he needs help himself. But under Iraola's system, will he get that protection?"

The Basque manager has excelled in his three seasons at Bournemouth, turning the club into one of the most entertaining sides in the Premier League. Iraola is known for his aggressive attacking style, but this approach also demands more from his defenders.

The price of a high defensive line is often the space left behind. Last season, Bournemouth faced opponents with the fastest direct attacking speed in the Premier League, meaning attackers reached the final third quicker than at any other club.

For Liverpool, this could become a problem. Kerkez couldn't keep pace with Elanga, but this isn't typical of Van Dijk. Liverpool's captain, in his prime, possessed all the qualities a center-back needs, but some attributes have a longer shelf life than others.

He remains a commanding defender in both his own and the opposition's penalty area, and his passing ability is excellent. However, when defending without the ball in midfield areas, even for a veteran center-back of his caliber, this is a challenging position.

There are signs that Van Dijk's pace is no longer what it once was. His fastest sprint in his Premier League career occurred during his debut season with Southampton, before joining Liverpool.

His fastest sprint in Liverpool colors came during the season Klopp led the team to the title. But that was a long time ago. Over the past three seasons leading into this one, Van Dijk's top speed has declined, and it's no longer an advantage for him.

Van Dijk now relies more on physical battles and positional judgment, but when the space he needs to cover increases, all of this becomes more difficult. If his front players aren't pressing and he isn't following suit, Liverpool's problems will only get worse.

The brief tension between Van Dijk and Szoboszlai that day lasted only moments, and the Dutch defender praised his teammate's performance after the penalty equalization against Newcastle. He even spoke about Szoboszlai's leadership potential: "He's here to take over."

But when will that happen? After a season in which Salah's role shifted faster than expected, Van Dijk's role under Iraola will be closely watched. Because Liverpool's midfield is also starting to give him headaches.

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