Virgil van Dijk hasn’t been at the races for Liverpool this season.

In fact, almost all of Liverpool’s first-team squad have performed well below their usual standards, but their defence has been their Achilles heel.

Alongside the Dutchman, Ibrahima Konate has had one of his worst campaigns for Liverpool ever, with questions still being asked about what the future holds for the Frenchman.

Photo by BURAK BASTURK/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

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And, even though Van Dijk has been one of the Reds’ best players over the last few years, a lot more should be coming from him with Theo Walcott now suggesting that the centre-back is a “shadow” of his former self.

Liverpool are 7th in the Premier League table with the Anfield outfit now seven points behind league leaders, Arsenal.

The Gunners have only lost one game all season, and that was to the Reds, but it’s clear that the three-point advantage they earned over them isn’t going to be enough for Liverpool to compete.

Unless Arne Slot’s men manage to turn things around soon, it’s hard to see how they’ll even be in the title race by the end of November....