Ex-players have 'duty of responsibility' as pundits - Van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk has warned that pundits' views and social media reaction can affect younger players' mental health

Former players turned pundits have a "duty of responsibility" to the new generation of footballers when commenting on their performances, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says.

Speaking to Sky Sports' Gary Neville, the defender warned opinions sometimes strayed into "clickbait, saying things to provoke things, and without thinking about the repercussions for the mental side of players".

"For me personally, I can deal with it, but I'm a bit worried for the next generation," Van Dijk told Neville.

It is not the first time Van Dijk has spoken out on the subject this season.

In November, the Dutchman said Wayne Rooney blaming a lack of leadership for Liverpool's poor form was "lazy criticism".

He raised the comments again days later when the pair appeared pitchside on Amazon Prime following the Reds' 1-0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Pundits' views also came under the spotlight last month when former Manchester United midfielders Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt made comments about current Red Devils' defender Lisandro Martinez.

Before the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Butt claimed City striker Erling Haaland would treat Argentine Martinez like a "little toddler", while Scholes suggested the Norway forward would "throw him in the net" after scoring.

Martinez responded by saying pundits "can talk on the television" but "no-one says anything" to your face.

'Not easy' to deal with impact

"I feel like the ex-top players have a responsibility to the new generation," Van Dijk said.

"Criticism is absolutely normal and part of the game, and I think it should stay that way.

"But sometimes criticism also goes into being clickbait, saying things to provoke things, and without thinking about the repercussions for the mental side of players, and especially the younger generation, who are constantly on social media.

"You can say, 'yeah, you shouldn't be on social media' - that's what I've mentioned [to them] loads of times.

"There is always this thing of when you play a good game, younger players check all the positive praises, but when you have a worse game, and you're getting bullied all over social media, or you're getting bad criticism, it can really affect you.

"I've seen that in certain players in the past, and currently as well, because it's just not easy."

With the use of social media ever-growing, the 34-year-old added: "It's going to get worse and worse, because the platforms nowadays, with the clickbait and the headlines, everyone is on it constantly.

"I feel like especially the ex-pros, top players, who have been through everything as well, they have this responsibility of protecting a little bit of that side as well.

"That's something maybe to look at."