BBC Pundit Blasts Virgil Van Dijk for "Atrocious" Defending During Tottenham Match

Despite appearing to settle for a draw, Diogo Jota seized the opportunity right after the kick-off when Lucas Moura made a mistake with his back pass. Jota then scored past Fraser Forster, causing Anfield to erupt with joy.

Van Dijk received criticism for his involvement in Tottenham's opening goal, despite Liverpool's dramatic victory.

As the Netherlands international attempted to catch up to Ivan Perisic on the counterattack, he slipped and fell. This gave the 34-year-old the chance to make a cross to Kane, who then powerfully struck the ball through Alisson Becker's legs and into the net.

Following the game, Stephen Kelly, a BBC Sport pundit, specifically criticized Van Dijk. This season, the 31-year-old has struggled more than ever before in a Liverpool uniform and was even described as "overrated" by TalkSport's Jason Cundy.

Speaking on the Football Daily Podcast, Kelly said: “Apart from the unbelievable chances, the defending at times if you actually analyse it as a coach, some of the defending was atrocious.

“It was so bad from both sides, it really was. In the second half, Liverpool looked so vulnerable.

“[Virgil] Van Dijk, he’s had an off-season, and maybe he can get back to what he was.

“But, when he’s chasing down [Ivan] Perisic and Perisic chops inside and he slips over, I’m like, Van Dijk would have got there and just eaten him alive and pushed him into the corner and shown him away, and Perisic would have turned away and sort of run back. That’s the way he was.

“But there’s a vulnerability to him now that wasn’t there before and Liverpool have that, but they still came away winners with Moura giving that chance away.”