The 2022/23 season has certainly not been a great one for Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk thus far.
For the last couple of years, the Reds and their defensive talisman have been undeniably great and if it weren't for Manchester City, they would have completely dominated the English game.
But this campaign, Liverpool look a pale shadow of the team they once were under the astute leadership of manager Jurgen Klopp.
Last Saturday's 1-0 loss to relegation candidates Nottingham Forest was the lowest point and it's a result that leaves the Merseyside club dwelling in eighth place in the Premier League table.
Van Dijk had another game to forget at the City Ground as well. After starring in the 1-0 win over Manchester City, the Dutchman slipped back into his less commanding form.
The former Southampton man was also guilty of missing a number of clear cut chances from set-piece, with Forest goalkeeper Dean Henderson pulling off an incredible stoppage-time save to thwart him.
Read more: Henderson's insane save on Van Dijk during Forest 1-0 Liverpool
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool and Ryan Yates of Nottingham Forest shake hands following the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool FC at City Ground on October 22, 2022 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Van Dijk falls in ranking of world's best centre-backs
Van Dijk's poor form has certainly not gone unnoticed in the footballing sphere.
Earlier this year, the Dutch colossus was rightly ranked as the world's best centre-back thanks to his exploits in 2021/22.
But in FourFourTwo's latest list detailing the 10 best central defenders on the planet right now, Van Dijk has slipped from first to fourth.
Check out the publication's new ranking...
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks dejected following defeat in the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on August 22, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Who is the best centre-back in the world?
10. Kim Min-Jae (Napoli)
9. Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
8. William Saliba (Arsenal)
7. Eder Militao (Real Madrid)
6. Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
5. Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
4. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
3. Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
2. Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)
- David Alaba (Real Madrid)
ALMERIA, SPAIN - AUGUST 14: David Alaba of Real Madrid celebrates scoring their teams second goal during the LaLiga Santander match between UD Almeria and Real Madrid CF at Juegos Mediterraneos on August 14, 2022 in Almeria, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
So, it's Alaba who takes the gold medal, with the Austrian's teammates Rudiger and Militao joining him in the top 10.
Real Madrid really are spoilt for choice in the centre-back department, aren't they?
Dias and Marquinhos are the other two players who have usurped Van Dijk in the ranking, with the latter of those two players going from 10th back in May to second this time around.
Not bad that.
The players to miss out from the previous list are Jules Kounde, Joel Matip and Kalidou Koulibaly. They've been replaced by Kim, Saliba and Romero, who've all enjoyed excellent starts to the 2022/23 season.
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