Alan Shearer slams Virgil van Dijk for "nonsense" Premier League criticism

The Dutch defender has criticized English football’s congested scheduling.

Virgil van Dijk’s criticism of the English footballing calendar has triggered a brutal response from Alan Shearer.

Last week, the Liverpool captain said the country’s football schedule puts players’ health at risk.

“In England we believe the schedules are too busy,” Van Dijk said. “The players are getting paid well but it should never come at the cost of our health.

“We keep having to play more and more games. We as players should start saying something about it, contribute to a solution.”

Shearer, who made 730 appearances during his career, hit back at Van Dijk’s comments in an interview with The Rest is Football podcast.

“Nonsense, nonsense. Players are playing too much football? What? I mean, come on,” the Premier League icon said. “I know that you should never mention the money, but they’ve got bigger squads than ever, more substitutes than ever, you’re getting paid more money than ever, you’ve got the best physios, you’ve got the best technology, you’ve got the best of everything. Do me a favour, playing too much football? F****** hell.”

Liverpool will play three games in nine days after the international break. Van Dijk and co will restart their Premier League campaign with the Merseyside derby before meeting Toulouse in the Europa League. They will then take on Nottingham Forest in EPL on October 29.