---
title: "‘Standing still’ – Pundit rips into Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/standing-still-pundit-rips-into-liverpool-captain-virgil-van-dijk/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Vishal Subramanian"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2026-09-09T20:04:06Z"
modified: "2026-10-02T02:22:20Z"
---

# ‘Standing still’ – Pundit rips into Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool’s Champions League group-stage meeting with Atletico Madrid at Anfield in September 2026 finished the first half locked at 1-1, after Marcos Llorente’s equaliser for Andoni Iraola’s side reopened a familiar question about the back line. Tim Sherwood’s critique of [Virgil van Dijk](https://readliverpoolfc.com/squad/virgil-van-dijk/) on Sky Sports became the main talking point of the interval.

This update, published on 2 October 2026, revisits Sherwood’s verdict and fills in the detail he glossed over on air. That includes who played Llorente onside, and where [Bradley Barcola](https://readliverpoolfc.com/squad/bradley-barcola/) lined up for the hosts.

## Sherwood rips into Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk

Sherwood did not hold back when the cameras cut to him during the live broadcast. He said, “I thought he was so far offside”, before explaining exactly where he felt the defending had gone wrong, as set out in our [original coverage of Sherwood’s comments](https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/standing-still-pundit-rips-into-liverpool-captain-virgil-van-dijk/).

The pundit’s criticism landed squarely on Van Dijk. Liverpool’s captain has anchored the back line since 2018, but Sherwood judged his reading of the Llorente run to be well off the mark on this occasion.

## Why Tim Sherwood faulted Virgil van Dijk for Llorente’s goal

Sherwood’s sharpest words came when he broke down the picture at the exact moment Llorente arrived in the box. “The defenders are so square. He bends his run in. There’s no one near him. Van Dijk’s just standing still. He’s clearly onside!” he said on Sky Sports.

That critique involving Virgil van Dijk and Tim Sherwood centred on one passage of play, and the detail behind it is more nuanced than his first reaction suggested. [Milos Kerkez](https://readliverpoolfc.com/squad/milos-kerkez/) appeared to play Llorente onside with his own positioning, which is why no flag went up. Bradley Barcola started that match on the right flank for Liverpool, well away from the passage of play that led to the goal.

## What happens next for Iraola’s side in Europe

This report reflects the picture at half-time only. Liverpool and Atletico were level at 1-1 at Anfield in that September 2026 group-stage fixture, with Sherwood’s remarks made live as the match continued. Confirmed detail on how the second half played out, and on Atletico’s results elsewhere in the group under Iraola, is not part of the verified reporting available here.

Liverpool’s broader form this season has looked solid away from home too. The Reds’ recent [away win at Bournemouth](https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/bournemouth-vs-liverpool-match-report-isak-winner/) brought [praise for the defensive effort](https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/alisson-praises-jacquet-liverpool-bournemouth-win/) from inside the camp, a contrast to the scrutiny Van Dijk faced against Atletico.