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Virgil van Dijk quickly settled the debate over who was at fault for Liverpool’s defensive shambles

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1 year ago

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Virgil van Dijk quickly settled the debate over who was at fault for Liverpool’s defensive shambles

During a pivotal moment in the match against Arsenal, the Liverpool captain found himself entangled in a critical situation, unable to effectively handle a long ball and experiencing a mix-up with Alisson Becker. This defensive lapse ultimately led to Gabriel Martinelli capitalizing on the confusion and slotting the ball into an open goal, contributing to Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat.

The crucial moment completely shifted the momentum of the match, as Liverpool, who had been fortunate to be level at 1-1 after the first half, found themselves on the back foot. Van Dijk’s failure to clear the ball, leading to a bounce, coupled with Alisson’s unsuccessful attempt to clear it, sparked debate over who was at fault for the error.

Addressing the incident after the match, the Dutch defender took full responsibility for the 2-1 goal, acknowledging its significant impact as a turning point in the game.

“I should have done better and I should have made a better decision there. It hurts for me and it hurts for the rest of the team.

“It’s a big turning point, we were so good after the break, we were having opportunities, we were dominant, I think the energy started to drain a little bit.

“I should just try and clear it but I made the split-second wrong decision and unfortunately these things happen sometimes in football but that doesn’t take away that it hurts.”

Manchester United legend Roy Keane was unsympathetic towards Van Dijk after the match, criticizing Liverpool’s overall defensive performance.

“Liverpool defensively, the goals they gave away, it was like a pub team defending,” he said.

Van Dijk felt responsible for such a big moment going wrong Credit: Sky

But Keane stressed how bad Liverpool were throughout the full 90Credit: Sky

“In terms of the intensity from the first whistle to the last with Liverpool, in possession and without, I can’t believe how bad they were, but credit to Arsenal, they turned up and were at it.”

Liverpool will have plenty to dissect post-match beyond the error leading to Arsenal’s second goal. Van Dijk and his center-back partner Ibrahima Konate appeared disorganized for Bukayo Saka’s opener. Then, with their hopes dwindling at 2-1, Van Dijk failed to close down Leandro Trossard in time, allowing the Belgian to slot the ball through Alisson’s legs, sealing the outcome.

 

 

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