Virgil van Dijk’s ‘laziness cost them’ and ‘only one’ Liverpool player has turned up this season

Tony Cascarino has slammed Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez for being too lazy during Liverpool’s defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Liverpool’s winless run in the Premier League stretched to five games following a 3-2 loss at the Vitality Stadium.

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Bournemouth went 2-0 up thanks to Evanilson and Alex Jimenez before Van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai had seemingly rescued a point for Arne Slot.

But Amine Adli bundled home a winner for the home side in the 95th minute as Liverpool’s struggles went on.

Cascarino believes both of Bournemouth’s opening two goals were avoidable but laziness from Van Dijk and Kerkez were to blame.

He said on talkSPORT’s Weekend Breakfast: “In certain positions and certain players were lazy and that laziness cost them.

“Van Dijk is the obvious culprit, but I’d say Kerkez was as well. Take the first goal, that’s a lazy effort to clear your lines or get the ball away.

“Kerkez has been lazy, that’s why he was dragged off at half-time. He hasn’t seen the pass and has basically been lazy to get in a position to just cut the ball out. That was quite a simple goal to stop.”

Van Dijk did get Liverpool back in it before half-time, heading home Szoboszlai’s corner.

But Cascarino believes the Reds are not offering enough in terms of getting the ball into the box for their forwards to attack, singling out Florian Wirtz for overplaying too much.

He added: “Liverpool also offer no aerial threat at all.

“Yes, they scored with Van Dijk from a set piece, but I’m talking in general open play, Liverpool are just walking around.

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“Football’s changed slightly where too much possession is around the 18-yard box, tip, tap, little flicks – Wirtz is doing so many little flicks.

“He’s giving the ball away as much as anybody and every now and again, it’ll come off and we’ll go, what a wonderful player. 

“But all these little flicks, there’s no ball that’s going into the danger area where someone can get on the end of it.”

Despite Liverpool’s ongoing issues, Cascarino did highlight one positive – the form of Szoboszlai.

The 25-year-old scored and assisted at the Vitality and Cascarino believes their hopes of ending the season well depend on the Hungarian midfielder.

He said: “Liverpool can still score goals, because they’ve got Dominik Szoboszlai.

“He was so clearly Liverpool’s best player – he’s about the only one that’s turned up for Liverpool this year.”

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Meanwhile, Jermaine Pennant believes Liverpool must get back to basics, starting with rediscovering the press that was so successful under Jurgen Klopp.

He told talkSPORT’s Inside Liverpool: “Just press, it’s basics.

“I think Slot is so hurt from the start of the season of conceding so many goals he just wants everyone back in shape and that’s not working.

“I just don’t understand how you can take the DNA out of Liverpool, especially at Anfield.

“Teams used to come there and not get a minute, not get a minute on the ball and it’ll be chaotic, press, press, press. 

“We’re not saying when you get the ball, go straight up, you can still have your slow build up but when they’ve got the ball, stop it at the source at the top or if they get out, get back, then press again.

“I’m no manager, but I was told, when I played football, don’t give anyone time on the ball because it’s the Premier League, they will find a way.”

Liverpool face Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday before hosting Newcastle in the Premier League next Saturday.