Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney claimed earlier this month that Van Dijk has not “really led that team this season" as Liverpool’s form took a hit over the past several weeks.
The Dutchman did hit back, calling it a “lazy criticism,” stating that he didn’t hear Rooney speak when his side lifted the Premier League title last year in Arne Slot’s first campaign in charge.
Van Dijk is one of the most respected defenders on the planet, but even he will admit he has not been at his best this season as the title slowly slips away from The Reds due to their mixed form as of late.
Liverpool's defence has been leaky to say the least, and in the league, they have conceded 14. Compared to Arsenal, who have conceded just three, a staggering comparison.
In an exclusive interview with Tribal Football, Gullit spoke on behalf of Video Gamer about how the towering defender is a shadow of his former self.
"I think after his injury, he had some difficult spells. I think he recovered a lot better from it last year. But I think since that injury, he doesn't want to tackle, he doesn't want to get into contact with the opposition.
"The opposition has also figured out how to play him. Now he has to find a way to reinvent himself again.
"You need to, because I remember also when I had the injury, I was out for six months, and I said when I came back in, I'm different now. I wasn’t the same. And I needed to adjust."
After a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the weekend in which Van Dijk kept a clean sheet, Liverpool are now third in the league behind Arsenal and Manchester City, who they face this Sunday.
Firstly, however, Van Dijk will lead his side against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, where he will aim to prove many doubters wrong and fire Liverpool above the likes of Barcelona and Newcastle United.