Bonus Pod! Nev chats to Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk!

0:00Thumbtack presents Uncertainty Strikes.

0:03Gary Neville:I was surrounded. The aisle and the options were closing in. There were paint rollers, satin and matte finish, angle brushes and natural bristles. There were too many choices. What if I never got my living room painted? What if I couldn't figure out what type of paint to use? What if... I just used Thumbtack. I can hire a top-rated pro that knows everything about interior paint, easily compare prices and read reviews. Thumbtack knows homes. Download the app today. Good to see you again. Three years since I last spoke to you. How are you feeling? You're playing every single week. Are you having to prepare differently, recover differently?

0:41Not really. I think my preparation and pre-match, post-match, I think is still consistent and still the same. And I think it shows in the amount of games I can still play. so I just have to keep doing that, keep going and that's the responsibility I feel towards the team, towards the club and try to perform as best as I can but I feel fine.

1:04Gary Neville:Since I last spoke to you, I think there's definitely been a shift in the Premier League of style of play. Do you feel that as well in the last couple of years, the physicality, the long free kicks that are sort of being put in the box, long throws? Well, the long throws has definitely been a trend especially this season. I think last season maybe certain teams, but this season especially. I think because the game now is so micro-dosed, or how you want to call it, that everything's getting highlighted. Everything is like so much in focus. It gets spoken about a lot more. I think back in your time, in the days, back in the days, it was...

1:44It's not how long ago. No, it isn't. But it was already very direct, physical. a lot of, you know, set-piece as well, long balls and headers. So I don't know if it's really that big of a change, but what is definitely a change this season is the long drawings. And obviously nowadays everyone has set-piece coaches. And so there's just a little bit more focus on it. But I won't say in the game, the big, big, there's big, big differences, in my opinion, but yeah, who am I?

2:20Gary Neville:while you're playing it, do you like the long throws? Are you a fan of it or do you think... Like attacking or defending? Yeah, both. I mean, are they difficult to deal with? Obviously, yeah, definitely. It creates chaos. But, yeah, if you defend the long throwing, you need everyone to be taking a responsibility in order to try and clear it. And there is an opportunity, obviously, on the counter then as well.

2:44Offensively, I think it definitely can be a weapon if you have the right throw. If you look at Brentford, for example, but when we played them, I think that right back had a throw and he can throw from one side to the other almost and that could definitely be a weapon but I prefer to score goals in football but listen, you can score goals in any way as long as you score goals.

3:09Gary Neville:You mentioned about clearing it there. You're number one in the Premier League this season for clearing the ball out of your box both aerially and on the ground. Ordinarily, you're about number 11 in the Premier League. Is it a positive and a negative, really, that you are number one in the Premier League right now? You've made more clearances as of now than you have done in any season for Liverpool so far in the full season. Yeah, I totally understand what you mean. I think if you look at all of our games so far this season, we have been having very good games, very poor games as a team. We have been good defensively as a team, not good defensively in terms of being sometimes too open, sometimes too exposed.

3:57So you have to obviously deal with what comes your way, that's a matter of fact. And when you have to defend and you have to clear it, you have to do that. It says a lot at the moment that we are in a transition, trying to find the right balance in order to defend well as a team. And we're getting there. It's a process because it just takes time. Like, it's absolutely normal. But yeah, obviously everyone wants, and including us, we want results every three, four days now. And that's something we try to achieve.

4:33Gary Neville:You're massively experienced. You've seen everything in the game and you've won everything in the game. What has changed? You know, when I've watched Liverpool this season, There are times at the end of a game where maybe you've not got a result. And I thought, what is it that I'm looking at that's quite different? Because some of the things are the same when you watch the players maybe and the midfield's quite similar. You and Canate at the back is quite similar. What has changed this season? Why are you more open? Why are you more exposed? You can't put it on one particular point, I think. Give us all of them.

5:06Yeah, well, I wish. but you know it's the transition it's the intensity it's the the decision making it's obviously sometimes luck that doesn't because that's that's part of the game regardless like we all know can either go your way or the other way and I think the first game the five games of the season we have to be on the right side and then games after that that we've not been on the right side and it's a sort of it's a it's a a process that we have to get through and personally as players but as a team as well the demands of the game like I said already the intensity you said that twice now what do you mean

5:50Gary Neville:do you mean not being able to live with the intensity of the teams it's obviously like playing three four days every three four days championship football traveling obviously physical demands but also the mental mental side of it but you're used to that you've won yeah well obviously Like I'm not, it's a game obviously of 11 players on the pitch, but in total like 14, 15, that has to try and win the game. So everyone is dealing with certain things in a certain way. I'm trying to help each and every one of them, us as a team, because I want the best for the club. I want the best for the players.

6:26And it's a process that we have to get through. And it's how inconsistent it has been and it's tough to take. For me personally, it hurts me as well, you know, being on the losing side that I've not been on many times in my Liverpool career. Being on the consistent side of all those years and now obviously being in a position where we are going up and down, having good games and then dropping down with the level that we are. but that's something we have to take on board and improve and do that together

7:00Gary Neville:Is it fair to say what you're referring to is that the players that have come into the club are getting used to the demands of Liverpool Football Club Well that's definitely a part but also I think for the players that have been here dealing with being the champions is also a big part of You think that's an issue? It's not an issue but it's something that you have to deal with it's just a matter of fact so you know the pressure that comes with it. But, you know, it's just one of the things that you have to deal with. And it's not as easy as everyone would think it is. So, and I said it before, I think I said it last year in multiple interviews, I think it's very difficult to retain a title, regardless.

7:45And we couldn't do it the last time we became champions. And unfortunately, we can't do it this year.

7:53Gary Neville:That sound could mean a lot of things. And when something's going wrong at home, the hardest part can be figuring out what the problem actually is. At Thumbtack, you can upload a voice message or a photo, and our AI-powered search will help diagnose your project. Plus, the pros we know have over 14 million five-star reviews, so you can hire with confidence. Thumbtack. We know homes. Hire the right pro today. You're the constant along with Alisson in terms of world-class players dominated your positions now for a number of years but is it fair to say that having the defence change around you obviously Andy Robertson's in and out he was a constant for so many years you've got obviously Trent Alexander-Arnold that's left I know you've had different partners at times this season is that a factor that I always felt that you were doing two or three people's jobs in the team at times I think everyone thought that you do more than your own job Is that getting more difficult for you?

8:52I think if you look at the teams that are becoming champions or successful, I think they have a very consistent line-up. They have a very well-balanced team and we're looking for that. Like I said, it's a process. I've mentioned it a couple of times already. That's been the case as well. We're trying to build on good things, build on the right things that we are doing. But you need also a bit of luck in not getting injuries. Unfortunately, we have some very long-term injuries as well. And yeah, it's never easy, but it's not easy for everyone out there. Everyone wants to perform. Everyone wants to do well for the club.

9:41and when that doesn't happen, to deal with the repercussions of it, that's definitely not easy at times. But I am very aware and everyone should be very aware that we are very privileged to be able to go out there every three, four days and show ourselves for this beautiful club. Does the noise bug you? Because Liverpool, it's constant. it's constant yeah but the thing is I think that's always gonna be that's from day one since I've worked in the club so that's not the issue I said you weren't worth 75 million quid to be fair I mean but the thing is that comes with it you know that's and I've mentioned it over the last I had a good interview in my opinion with Paul Joyce from the Times and and we spoke about obviously the role that media has at this day and age.

10:40Do you like it? Do you accept it? So for me personally, I can deal with it, but I'm a bit worried for the next generation. You don't think they will be able to deal with it? Well, it's not as easy as everyone thinks.

10:53Gary Neville:Talk to us specifically about that. You're talking about the constant noise, social media, podcasts, punditry, everything. I feel like I can say whatever I want in this case, but I feel like... Please do. Yeah, I understand. But I feel like the ex-top players have a responsibility to the new generation, in my opinion. So, you know, criticism is absolutely normal and part of the game. And I think it should stay there. but sometimes criticism go into also being clickbait you know saying things to you know to provoke things or to and then without thinking about the repercussions for a mental side of players and especially the younger generation who are obviously constantly on social media and you can say oh yeah you shouldn't be on social media that's what i've mentioned loads of times do you say that to young players yeah 100 like especially like there is there is always this thing of like you know when you play a good game you want you want to yeah younger players checking you know all the positive praises and stuff and when you have a lesser good game and you're getting bullied all over social media or you're getting a bad criticism it can really affect you and i see that with certain in certain players in the past and obviously currently as well because it's just it's just not easy we can all say like let's yeah you should just deal with it.

12:18But I think it's going to get worse and worse because the platforms nowadays, the how it goes, the click base, the headlines, everyone is just on it constantly. And I feel like, and I started with it, I feel like especially the ex-pros, top players, with been through everything as well on the absolute highest level, I think they have this responsibility of protecting a little bit of that side as well, even if they're part of a bigger company or a bigger audience. But like I said, criticism, you know, it's part of the game, and that should stay there. That's absolutely normal, especially also from ex-pros that have been there, that have been in that particular situation, have dealt with it or deal with it maybe in a different way, but a better outcome.

13:10or, you know, I think that's something maybe to look at.

13:15Gary Neville:I mean, you're 34 now and you've got plenty of years left in you, but are you starting to think about the whole football career? Do you think you'd look at going on television? No. Never? Well, I'd never say never. Yeah. Because I feel like I have that platform and I have that reach of saying or, you know, doing the right thing. But I don't see myself being a pundit, to be absolutely honest with you. I definitely like to inspire the next generation. I love watching the academy guys. So is that coaching? You're talking about coaching? No, also no. No? No, I don't think I see myself being a coach because I feel like you're stepping from one world in terms of being under pressure constantly and not that I don't like it because it's part of what I want it to be to then quitting for a little bit and then go back in it and then also have no control really of what's going to happen on the pitch.

14:06So it's like, I don't want to. So what are you going to do? Well, I really like the fact of inspiring the next generation. So like I said, I'm quite a lot at the academy because I feel like those are the guys that eventually are going to bring Liverpool, keep Liverpool up there. I have my own, obviously, youth tournament that I want to make sure that that's the biggest on the 13th tournament in the world. So something with that. And it just makes me sort of, I know what it brings also to those youngsters. And I really like that. And let's see, time is, plenty of time.

14:55Gary Neville:You said about coaching there. Do you think the criticism of Arna Slott this season has gone too far? Some people questioning whether his job's under threat, He's won a league in the first season. That's a Premier League title in his first season. But he is getting quite a lot of heat right now. I said it last week, I think, and I said it just here as well, criticism for the season we are having is well-deserved because of the way we have been playing at times, the way we have been losing games on the bounce. That's just not the standard we set, especially last year. but you have criticism and you have disrespect and I feel like you think it's going to disrespect well depends on what you feel because I've I've got the question asked last week as well about do I think the disrespect is well deserved and I feel like I don't know because I don't read it at all times but obviously like I get the questions asked as well about you know the criticism and we just we're in a process of things and I feel like it just takes time and I don't think Liverpool from what I know Liverpool of is a club of you know making rest decisions you know and trusting the process but I know how the world works and I know the pressure that managers are on and obviously held responsible and accountable as well for the results that we are getting so I still feel that it's a process I still feel like he deserves in my eyes that, you know, the respect and the chance to obviously make sure that this process is going to be ended in a positive way.

16:40But yeah, we just have to keep going.

16:42Gary Neville:Are you doing the same work this year as you did last year on the training pitch? Has anything changed? Well, obviously some of the games and the demands and the way that teams are playing against us obviously makes us adapt a little bit in certain things. But most of the time, we're trying to do the same or better in possession, how an opponent is pressing. But at times we have not been able to do that for 90 plus minutes. And that's been a very big issue at times, especially the first part of the season where, yeah, we have just not been good enough over those 90 minutes. And then finally, Manchester City on Sunday, you've played in some of the great encounters against Manchester City.

17:25Gary Neville:What's at stake on Sunday? and how do you deal with Erling Haaland? It's a major battle. He's an amazing striker. And obviously I've played against Erling for so many years now and he's a modern day striker like we all know. He's strong, fast. Obviously a goal scorer, a born goal scorer and it will be tough. But the thing is, I think the game over there was very tough. Obviously it could be a totally different game if we take it back but in the end the second half we lost well deserved there but Sunday is another opportunity, a game that's always been difficult, been a very good atmosphere and I think it's something to look forward to and it will be good to be there again with each other.

18:23Is Champions League football a must? 100 % because I want to play Champions League football, but everyone else wants to play that as well. So we're working very hard to make sure that we do that. But I still feel that this season could still be special. We're in the Champions League, we're in the FA Cup still. Obviously a big game against Brighton next week and the Champions League, we'll see what happens. But I still feel that this season could be special. Even after all the difficulties we had over the summer, during the first part of the season, injuries, I feel like this still can be something special.

19:08But we need consistency, we need to work, we need to enjoy it as well because we are very, very privileged to be able to go out there every time, represent the club and play good football.

19:23Gary Neville:Virgil, great to speak to you. Thank you so much. You're very well done. Thank you so much. Hey, it's your ceiling vent, so I'm dripping. Could be the rain, could be the upstairs bathroom. Yikes. You could hire the guy your neighbor recommended, but I'm pretty sure that's just his cousin. Do we know if he's licensed or does he just own a ladder? Listen to your home. Go with Thumbtack. Upload a photo or voice note and we'll diagnose your project and match you with the right pro for the job. Thumbtack. We know homes. Hire the right pro today.