Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has singled out Virgil van Dijk for criticism following Liverpool's pre-season defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, taking issue with the captain's on-pitch demeanor.

The Reds fell behind early to a deflected Desire Doue strike and struggled to impose themselves, registering their first shot only in the 49th minute. It was during this period that cameras caught Van Dijk visibly frustrated, loudly berating teammate Joe Gomez for not providing an overlapping run.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Robinson expressed his disapproval. "Virgil van Dijk once again criticising his teammates," he said. "There is no need for Van Dijk to criticise Joe Gomez when he didn't overlap him."

The incident did not go unnoticed by others, with Sky Sports reporter Pete Gill also questioning the Dutch defender's leadership in a challenging moment. "Not for the first time in recent weeks, Van Dijk is attracting attention as he berates a team-mate," Gill observed. "He was imperious as a title-winning captain last season. A question: is he a good captain in a struggling team?"

While vocal exchanges between players are commonplace in the heat of competition, the scrutiny on Van Dijk's leadership has intensified. This comes after the captain's own admission that the team's mentality wavered during their heavy defeat to Manchester City just days prior, suggesting a need for strong, unifying leadership as Liverpool looks to rebuild momentum for the new campaign.