Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen have insisted that Virgil van Dijk's dip in form is a result of the wider struggles of Liverpool this season.
The Dutch defender has been a talisman for the Reds ever since his £75m move from Southampton back in January 2018.
However, Van Dijk has struggled at times during this campaign and was exposed along with the rest of Liverpool's defence in their 5-2 first leg defeat to Real Madrid at Anfield last month.
He was also partly at fault for Philip Billing's goal for Bournemouth on Saturday when he failed to stop Dango Ouattara's cross.