---
title: "Liverpool: Fans express concern over Virgil van Dijk statistic"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fans-express-concern-over-virgil-van-dijk-statistic/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2019-08-28T15:30:01Z"
modified: "2019-08-28T15:30:01Z"
---

# Liverpool: Fans express concern over Virgil van Dijk statistic

**Virgil van Dijk became the [world’s most expensive defender](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42496637) when he signed for Liverpool in a [£75m deal](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42496637) in January 2018 ([Harry Maguire has since eclipsed him](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48989647)), but the [Netherlands centre-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/virgil-van-dijk/profil/spieler/139208) has enjoyed individual and collective success at Anfield since then.**

He won the [PFA Player of the Year](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48065752) award last season and [helped the Reds to win the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup in 2019](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/virgil-van-dijk/erfolge/spieler/139208). He has also been an abundant source of goals, as noted in a statistic from [@AnfieldWatch](https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1166316451214626816) on Twitter.

> Since joining [#LFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) in January 2018, only Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have scored more goals for the Reds than Virgil van Dijk (8).[pic.twitter.com/2fRlR3uy4N](https://t.co/2fRlR3uy4N)
>
> — Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1166316451214626816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Van Dijk has scored [eight goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/virgil-van-dijk/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/139208) so far for Liverpool, with only three players on target more often for the club since his arrival, according to [Anfield Watch](https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1166316451214626816).

He found the net six times last season, with only five other Reds players scoring more in 2018/19. His tally was the same as attacking midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri and only one less than striker Divock Origi. \[[via TransferMarkt.co.uk](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liverpool-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/31/plus/0?reldata=%262018)\]

Van Dijk’s other goals came on his [Liverpool debut against Everton in the FA Cup](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42508636) and in the [Reds’ opening Premier League game of this season versus Norwich](https://www.skysports.com/football/liverpool-vs-norwich/407981).

While his scoring exploits have been impressive, these Liverpool fans on Twitter were more concerned with the comparative lack of goals from the Reds’ midfield players:

https://twitter.com/AlissxnV2/status/1166319683957604352

> That’s shocking we haven’t one midfielder hitting double figures and shows how reliant we are on the front 3 not to get injured
>
> — John O Sullivan (@Corballyred) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/Corballyred/status/1166370620277448704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/LewisLFC5/status/1166318052809596928

https://twitter.com/SpecialKav/status/1166316883018223616

https://twitter.com/RogerSmith\_1947/status/1166532554154897408

> That’s worrying… we need Aouar or Havertz next season… I’m sick of playing 4-0-3
>
> — Amz LFC (@96Amz) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/96Amz/status/1166334236795781120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> That’s not good enough for the midfielders
>
> — Craig (@1CraigFisher) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/1CraigFisher/status/1166365590539386881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> It's time our midfield join the action
>
> — Paco (@PacoLFC4Life) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/PacoLFC4Life/status/1166333666244608000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)