In the match between Liverpool and Newcastle, Van Dijk's failure to press forward effectively at the right moment contributed to Newcastle's first goal. Elanga's 61-meter run and finish have been repeatedly mentioned, but as Carragher showed on Sky Sports, Ola Aina gave him the ball unopposed.

Carragher said: "Van Dijk should have been positioned further forward from the start. If he was positioned deeper, he could have made an interception 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 well aware of the characteristics of players like that. He said: "It's very similar to Terry's position back then. Do you remember John Terry under Andre 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 have more players in that area; he also needs protection. This might be the first time in his career he can't help others; he needs others to help him." But under Iraola's system, can he get that kind of protection?

The Basque coach has performed brilliantly in his three seasons at Bournemouth, transforming the team into one of the most entertaining in the Premier League. Iraola is known for his aggressive playing style, but this style also demands more from his defenders.

The cost of a high defensive line often leaves space behind. Last season, Bournemouth faced opponents who attacked directly with the fastest pace in the Premier League, meaning opposition advanced into the final third quicker against them than against any other team.

This could be a problem for Liverpool. Kerkez couldn't handle Elanga, but that's also not characteristic of Van Dijk. Liverpool's captain possesses all the qualities needed by a top center-back in his prime, but some attributes have a longer shelf life than others.

He remains a tough defender both in his own penalty area and against opposition, and his passing range is excellent. However, when he defends without the ball near the halfway line, even for a top veteran center-back, this is an uncomfortable position.

There are signs that Van Dijk's pace is not what it once was. His fastest speed in a Premier League season occurred in his debut year for Southampton, before he joined Liverpool.

His fastest speed in a Liverpool shirt came in the season Klopp led them to win the league title. But that was a long time ago. In the three seasons before this one, Van Dijk's top speed has declined, and it's no longer an advantage.

Van Dijk now relies more on physical duels and positional awareness, but when the space he needs to cover becomes larger, all of this becomes more difficult. If the players in front press forward and he doesn't follow suit, Liverpool's problems will only worsen.

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

But when will that happen? After a season in which Salah's status changed faster than expected, Van Dijk's role under Iraola bears close watching. Because Liverpool's midfield is also starting to cause concern.

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