Virgil van Dijk has explained why he didn’t think Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty in their Premier League clash.
The Reds were beaten 3-2 by the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, in a game that saw them fall further behind the teams at the top of the table. Jurgen Klopp’s side are in 11th place and 14 points adrift of Arsenal who are top.
Arsenal took an early lead through Gabriel Martinelli, who scored with just 57 seconds on the clock. Liverpool responded with Darwin Nunez, who scored his first goal since the opening day draw with Fulham.
READ MORE: Arsenal exposed all four of Liverpool's massive problems that Jurgen Klopp must solve
READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings as Mohamed Salah and two others poor in Arsenal defeat
DON'T MISS:'I'm done' - Liverpool fans are all saying the same thing after Arsenal penalty
Liverpool fans make Martin Tyler and Gary Neville point during Arsenal defeat
Liverpool player ratings as Mohamed Salah and two others poor in Arsenal defeat
However, Liverpool trailed just before half-time through Bukayo Saka. Substitute Roberto Firmino restored parity for the Reds in the second half, before a penalty was awarded for a foul by Thiago Alcantara, which Saka converted.
After a swift VAR check, referee Michael Oliver was not instructed to go and check the monitor to review his decision and the penalty stood. Van Dijk thinks that it was the wrong call from the official.
“Very disappointed, obviously it was a very tough game for both sides,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports.
“We had good moments, bad moments and it got decided by a penalty that from our point of view wasn’t a penalty.
“It’s gone so quick, I’ve no idea how it looked in slow motion but unfortunately, we couldn’t get the points to bring it back to Liverpool.”
The Dutchman added: “It is tough to take in general, conceding goals but we know that they are in the best moment of their lives.
“They’ve lost one but apart from that they’ve had a great season and it’s always going to be tough.
“We had good moments, created chances at time, it’s hard to lose it by a penalty but we have to deal with it.”
READ NEXT:
- Liverpool fans make Martin Tyler and Gary Neville point during Arsenal defeat
- 'I'm done' - Liverpool fans are all saying the same thing after Arsenal penalty
- Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher slam Liverpool defending as Trent Alexander-Arnold point made
- Trent Alexander-Arnold substituted after Liverpool injury blow against Arsenal
- Luis Diaz forced out of Arsenal clash as Liverpool suffer new injury blow
