Virgil van Dijk’s ‘very strange’ Holland displays questioned by Marco van Basten

Holland legend Marco van Basten has slammed Virgil van Dijk for his recent performances for the national side, insisting the 31-year-old "does so little" in the build-up.

The Dutch are heading to the Qatar World Cup in tremendous form after winning five of their six Nations League matches this year, including two impressive victories over Belgium – the latest of which Van Dijk scored the winner in.

They've also kept clean sheets in both of their last two outings, but Van Basten, who inspired Holland to victory at Euro 88, says he expects a lot more from the Liverpool defender.

READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk makes World Cup 'focus' claim after Liverpool's poor start to season

"Van Dijk is actually the best man, but does the least in terms of initiative," Van Basten told Ziggo Sport. "It is actually very strange that such a very good player does so little for the Dutch national team in the build-up."

By contrast, the 57-year-old was full of praise for Van Dijk's centre back partner, highly-rated Ajax star Jurrien Timber, who was linked with a move to Manchester United over the summer.

"Timber is a really good builder," Van Basten added. "Ajax really started to play well because of this man, and so did the Dutch national team. It is really thanks to him that we play so easily from the back. He is really a top player."

Are Virgil van Dijk's best days behind him? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Van Dijk has looked uncharacteristically out of sorts for Liverpool in recent weeks, with his shaky form coinciding with the club's slow start to the season.

The Reds have won just two of their opening six Premier League matches, one of which was sealed courtesy of a 98th-minute winner, and are nine points off the top of the table already, and eight behind title rivals Manchester City.

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