Rafael van der Vaart slams ‘MEDIOCRE’ Liverpool calling Jordan Henderson and Joe Gomez ‘very normal’

Rafael van der Vaart has called out Liverpool ahead their second Champions League game against Ajax, and believes they are not as good as the hype that surrounds them. 

The former Ajax midfielder labelled the Reds as ‘mediocre’ ahead of their clash on Tuesday night, and singled out Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Joe Gomez as ‘very normal players’.

Van der Vaart believes football fans have become ‘blinded’ to the average nature of Liverpool’s team after their poor start to the season, despite reaching three Champions League finals in five seasons and winning the Premier League.  

Speaking to Dutch programme Rondo, the former Dutch international said: ‘I think we have become a bit blinded. We suddenly think Jordan Henderson is a crazy player. That’s just a very normal player. 

‘James Milner is also a very normal player. Joe Gomez is also a very normal player.’

‘Virgil van Dijk is top, the right back and left back are also good. But if things don’t go well and those attackers don’t have their day, then I think it’s just a very mediocre team.’

Both James Milner and Jordan Henderson have been labelled ‘normal players’ by Van der Vaart

However, Van der Vaart did still highlight the obvious threat presented by Jurgen Klopp’s dazzling array of attacking options, even though the likes of Mo Salah have been misfiring at times this season. 

The Reds hammered Bournemouth 9-0 in August, but have otherwise found it hard at times to get on the scoresheet, and casting that result against the Cherries aside, have only managed six goals in five Premier League games. 

Salah is goalless in seven in the Champions League but the Dutch club’s defence will still have to contend with the likes of Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz, who has led the way for the Reds at times this season with four goals.

Joe Gomez started the 4-1 drubbing in Napoli and has also been criticised by the ex-Spurs man

Luis Diaz scored Liverpool’s only goal against Napoli and has four so far from eight matches

Van der Vaart added: ‘The only thing I’m afraid of at Ajax is: if Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah do have their day, then we have a problem.

‘Then Ajax will never win. Certainly not at Anfield, I don’t think Daley Blind and Devyne Rensch are good enough for that.’

After seven games in all competitions the Reds have won only three, drawing three more and losing the seventh last week against Napoli, whilst the Dutch champions have recorded an unbeaten start in six matches. 

Both sides were part of a four-goal hammering last time out in the competition, with de Godenzonen hammering Rangers 4-0 at home whilst Klopp’s side fell to a shock 4-1 drubbing at Napoli. 

Mo Salah has struggled at times this season and is goalless in seven Champions League games