Paolo Di Canio has always been one to stir the emotions. And the former Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham United firebrand was at it again last week.
Asked for his view on Liverpool's forthcoming Champions League clash with Inter Milan, the ex-Italy international sought to pinpoint a weakness in the Reds.
"The Liverpool of two years ago had an impenetrable defence, as Virgil van Dijk had improved everyone around him," said Di Canio.
"Since returning from injury, he’s not the same player and therefore the whole team concedes more.
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“If you also look at Van Dijk’s body language, he used to move his arms to bring the full-backs tighter, but now he just flails his arms, complaining and looking frustrated with his team-mates."
Van Dijk may have bristled at those comments. He may have just shrugged them off like he has done so many opposing strikers. Or he may remain blissfully unaware.
Beyond doubt, though, is only days later the Liverpool defender produced arguably one of his best performances since returning from his serious knee injury last summer in helped the Reds scrap out a 1-0 Premier League win at Burnley on Sunday.
"He is completely back on track," said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp afterwards.
"He was absolutely at his best again and I would say that is good timing because there is a decisive part of the season coming now, obviously."
Van Dijk has been the first to admit it hasn't all been smooth running since the initial adrenaline burst of his return to action dissipated.
And it took several weeks to overcome the obvious effects of having tested positive for coronavirus shortly before Christmas.
But Van Dijk has been impressive of late. Even when given a few testing moments by burly Burnley forward Wout Weghorst, the Liverpool man ultimately got the measure of his Dutch compatriot.
*RATE THE LIVERPOOL PLAYERS FOR THE WIN OVER BURNLEY:
That form has helped the Reds keep five clean sheets in the last seven games, with the centre-back also popping up with a goal in the 3-1 Premier League win at Crystal Palace last month.
What, though, of Di Canio's inference Liverpool are now a lot more leaky?
It just doesn't stack up. Only Manchester City, Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers have conceded less goals than the Reds' 19 in the Premier League this season, with the latter having netted 40 goals fewer than Klopp's side.
Liverpool had let in only four fewer after 24 games in their title-winning campaign of 2019/20. Last season, with Van Dijk largely absent, they had shipped 32 times, although fellow centre-backs Joe Gomez and Joel Matip had joined the Dutchman on the sidelines by that point.
In Van Dijk's 29 appearances in all competitions this term, Liverpool have conceded only 21 goals and have kept 16 clean sheets.
Without the Dutchman, the Reds have been breached eight times in eight games.
And if, as Di Canio insists, Van Dijk has been flailing his arms more readily, it has been in the direction not of his team-mates but instead the assistant referee given the ongoing policy of only flagging for offside once an attacking move has broken down.
In some games, such as at Turf Moor on Sunday, it has given the perception Liverpool were being cut open, when in fact they were executing an offside trap that continually snared Burnley.
Indeed, at the weekend the Reds' ability to catch their opponents offside in the Premier League moved into three figures with 101. The next up are Manchester City and Brentford on a distant 61 and 51 respectively.
It all points to a job being well done, the reward far outweighing the obvious risk of such an approach.
Di Canio, though, is right to determine that if Liverpool aren't switched on at the San Siro - the 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa last season remains the most glaring example of what can happen when runners from deep aren't dealt with properly - then Inter could profit.
“Liverpool keep conceding the same dangerous opportunities nowadays, vertical balls behind the defenders, who then start their runs late," he said. "That lack of focus is where Inter can hurt them."
With Van Dijk back to his best, however, Liverpool are regaining their mean streak.
